OECS launches campaign to keep education reforms in schools

By S.Browne. Updated 5:36 p.m., Monday, June 8, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The Ministry of Education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced a new regional campaign by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) aimed at ensuring that education reforms introduced under the Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) continue to be used in schools across Member States as the initiative approaches its end in June 2026.

The campaign, titled The OECS PEARL Legacy, is intended to prevent education reforms introduced over the past years from losing momentum once the programme formally ends, and to encourage continued use of systems, tools, and approaches developed under PEARL.

The OECS Programme for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) is a regional education reform initiative that has supported improvements in curriculum development, early childhood education, special education needs, teacher training, and digital learning tools across participating Member States, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The new campaign comes as PEARL enters its final phase ahead of its scheduled conclusion in June 2026. According to the OECS, the Communication for Development (C4D) initiative is designed to strengthen public understanding of the reforms and encourage sustained use of the systems introduced under the programme.

The OECS says the aim is to ensure that the progress made under PEARL is not lost once direct programme support ends, and that education systems across the region continue to build on the reforms already introduced.

Under PEARL, education systems across the OECS have been supported in a range of areas including curriculum updates, early childhood education, special education needs, teacher training, and the integration of digital learning tools.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, these reforms have been gradually introduced into the education system, with schools and educators adopting updated curriculum frameworks, training approaches, and learning resources developed under the regional programme.

August 2026 and will use a mix of communication tools, including radio, television, social media, newsletters, and community engagement activities.

It will also include meetings, surveys, and informational materials aimed at raising awareness of the reforms and encouraging continued participation from key education stakeholders, including policymakers, school leaders, teachers, and parents.

As part of the final phase of PEARL, the OECS will host a close-out event in Saint Lucia from June 24 to 26, 2026, bringing together education stakeholders from across the region to review the outcomes of the programme and discuss next steps.

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