Caribbean News
Trust Fund Assessments of Primary School Children Highlights Opportunities for Government Sint Maarten to Strengthen Education
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, October 16th, 2024 – The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) recently presented the results of assessments of primary school students to stakeholders as part of ongoing educational consultations. The Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA), conducted over the past year, have given the Government of Sint Maarten insights into pupils’ reading and math skills across the island. These consultations are part of the Trust Fund’s Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP), which aims to help restore and strengthen the island’s education system following the damage caused by Hurricane Irma and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The project is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport (MECYS). While the FRLP mainly focuses on repairing the Charles Leopold Bell School, Sister Marie Laurence School and the Sint Maarten Jubilee Library, the assessments offer further opportunities to improve literacy and numeracy for children in these restored learning environments.
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Lyndon Lewis stated that the government is committed to using the data from the assessments to shape the future of early education in Sint Maarten, “The EGMA and EGRA assessments provide us with an invaluable snapshot of where our students are today and where we need to focus our efforts. With this data, we are better equipped to tailor our education strategies to meet the needs of every child in Sint Maarten. By investing in teacher training, enhancing the curriculum, and supporting students at home and in the classroom, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the tools they need to thrive academically and in life.” 
Group three (Grade one) pupils typically aged seven to eight from 17 primary schools across Sint Maarten made up the study; The assessments tested children’s proficiency in Math, Reading, Comprehension, and Dutch. EGMA tests focused on skills like number identification, addition, subtraction, and problem-solving. EGRA assessments evaluated letter and word recognition, reading comprehension and understanding of phonemes. Results were categorized into three levels: mastery, developing, and emerging. Students at the mastery level demonstrated a strong understanding of concepts and skills, and showed they were ready for advanced challenges. The developing group had some knowledge but needed support to reach mastery while students in the emerging category were in the early stages of acquiring the necessary skills for their grade level and would benefit from re-teaching and practice.
The assessments indicated that many students were below the mastery benchmarks, instead falling into the developing and emerging categories. For example, only 6% of pupils achieved mastery in oral reading fluency; the benchmark is 50+%, while 11% reached mastery in numeracy based on their addition speed; the benchmark is 56+%. However, data varied by school, with some schools reporting more than 80% of pupils had mastery in literacy whilst other schools had scores as low as 36%. The report also showed that student performance was affected by teaching methods and support at home. Teachers who used a mix of teaching styles, explained lesson goals clearly, and reviewed lessons often saw better results. More than half the students said they had little or no help with homework and family income also played a role in learning outcomes. Additionally, the assessments found close to three-quarters of students used tablets, suggesting that technology could be a tool to improve learning.
Sidonia Lacorbiniere-Hodge, ECYS Department Head of Education stated, “This marks a significant milestone for MECYS in assessing student learning within the Primary Education Cycle. This assessment provides valuable insights for school boards, school management and education staff into student performance in Group three in 2023, particularly for this group of students whose education was disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. We look forward to continued collaboration with all partners in utilizing standardized assessment results to inform strategies to meet each student’s developmental needs.”
This long-term commitment to enhancing literacy and numeracy aligns with St. Maarten’s broader educational objectives. Through assessments like EGMA and EGRA, the government aims for the island’s education system to meet the needs of students from an early age. This will ensure they have the foundation needed to succeed academically and beyond. The NRPB is implementing the FRLP project on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten under the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, which is managed by The World Bank and financed by the Dutch Government.
INSET: EGRA/EGMA results presentation, September 12th at Simpson Bay Resort
Montego Bay(JIS) – Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says the city stands to benefit significantly from hosting the 49th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), slated for July 6 to 8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.
The meeting will bring together regional leaders to engage in high-level policy discussions on a range of issues, including regional security, climate change and trade.
In an interview with JIS News, Mayor Vernon said Montego Bay’s selection as host city, solidifies its position as a leading Caribbean destination for events of this magnitude.
“It places [Montego Bay] not only as a strategic location, but a viable option across the Caribbean for events of this nature. We are indeed setting ourselves apart as that place to host high-level regional discussions,” he said.
Highlighting the city’s track record, Mayor Vernon noted that Montego Bay has hosted several CARICOM events in the past, including the
landmark 2003 meeting where the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development was adopted.
“[It] tells a story. It positions us as a key meeting place for important regional policy discussions,” the Mayor said. He added that the upcoming conference is expected to tackle critical matters such as transportation, telecommunications, digitalization of the tourism industry, regional security, climate financing, food and nutrition security, external trade negotiations, and Haiti.
“Montego Bay is positioned to facilitate these discussions within its space, and that is also key for Jamaica as we look to expand in these areas,” Councillor Vernon outlined.
The Mayor also underscored the importance of regional integration.
“We hope that these discussions will deepen the integration process, because we can indeed benefit from regionalism, especially in light of what is happening globally,” he stated.
Referencing his earlier proposal for a regional disaster response hub, Councillor Vernon said the discussions around climate change and public safety could further promote coordinated approaches among CARICOM member states.
He also expressed confidence in the city’s readiness to host the event.
“We are putting all the necessary things in place to ensure that we not only have a safe event, but a great experience for our visitors,” he assured.
Mayor Vernon also took the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who will assume chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1.
The CARICOM conference will be held under the theme ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’.
CONTACT: SERENA GRANT
JIS MONTEGO BAY
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE INTEGRITY COMMISSION
BEGINS
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 2 July 2025: The 11th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth
Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB), concluded Friday 6th June at The Landings Resort & Spa, after rallying attendees under the theme “Recommitting to Fighting Corruption Effectively and Sustainably in the Caribbean.” Over five impactful days, delegates tackled corruption’s entrenched challenges with renewed commitment to unity, innovation, and leadership.
Artificial Intelligence An impactful demonstration was provided by His Excellency, Professor Luis Franceschi Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, on the benefits and drawbacks of the use of Artificial Intelligence. Anti-Corruption Bodies were encouraged to start getting familiar with the technology to better understand how it can be leveraged in the fight against corruption.
Country Updates Reflect Shared Progress and Challenges
Reports from member organisations highlighted major strides in public education, asset declaration, and investigative framework. Yet, countries also reported ongoing constraints, including human resource limitations, political resistance, and inadequate statutory framework.
SWOT & Synergy: Regional Blueprint for Collective Action
Dr. Roger Koranteng of the Commonwealth Secretariat led a comprehensive SWOT analysis session, providing a candid assessment of operational realities. He concluded with strong calls for enhanced synergy among member bodies and for adopting a unified voice in policy advocacy, resource mobilisation, and legal reform. The Ghanaian experience offers a valuable comparative model.
Leadership: Courage, Vision & Transformation Needed
With corruption becoming more normalised globally, presenters—including leaders from the Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Lucia, St.
Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago—challenged the attending institutions to embrace transformational leadership. Recommendations included institutional resilience training, succession planning, and performance benchmarking.
United Front: Call to the Wider Caribbean and Beyond
The conference recognised the benefits of extending the membership of the Association beyond the original constituents of English-Speaking Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and signified its willingness to accept and encourage membership of Integrity Commissions and anti-corruption bodies of the wider Caribbean countries. “Corruption knows no language barriers—our fight must be collective,” stated Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph, Chairperson of the CCAICACB.
Digital Transformation: VLEX Software Considered
The conference marked a major step forward with the agreement to further investigate the benefits of the VLEX Legal Database-driven AI system, designed to strengthen legal research, asset recovery, and case management initiatives. The Commonwealth Secretariat, CARICOM IMPACS, and UNODC, received the presentation well, however the rest of the association would communicate their interest to the Turks and Caicos Islands Commission, which was taking the lead in investigating the possibilities.
Key Recommendations Going Forward to consider:
- Region-wide adoption of technology integration
- Legislative reforms to streamline access to declarant information
- Youth-centred anti-corruption education campaigns
- Institutional collaboration and peer reviews across commissions
- To explore extending invitations of membership to CCAICACB to other Caribbean countries
- An introduction to the idea of an International Corruption Court
The conference closed with a stirring call to recommit—not just in words, but in action—to building a future rooted in transparency, justice, and ethical leadership across the Commonwealth Caribbean and beyond.
Media Contact: TCI Integrity Commission Email: info@integritycommission.tc Website: www.integritycommission.tc
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Header: TCI Integrity Commission Team (left to right)- Jovan Flemming (IT Specialist Security Manager),Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Wendal Swann (Commissioner) and Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer).
1st insert: Imterniza McCartney (Public Education Officer)
2nd insert: Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson – Chair
3rd insert: (left to right): Justice Tanya Lobban Jackson (Chair), Lady Anande Trotman-Joseph(Chair CCAICACB) and Charna Pompier (Director Integrity Commission, St. Maarten).
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