Ministry of Education. St. Christopher-Saint Kitts and Nevis

Education in St. Kitts and Nevis is universal, compulsory from ages 5 to 16, and co-educational.

The Government of St Kitts also continues to advance policies to extend learning into adulthood.

Education is the cornerstone of personal and national development.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for delivering programmes and services at the following levels:

• Pre-schools cater for children who are at least 3 years old
• The Primary tier of the education system caters to students aged 5-1
•  Students normally begin their Secondary education at age 12

As member States of the Caribbean Examinations Council, St. Kitts administers various standard secondary-level exams designed to certify graduates for different paths toward employment:

• The Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) certifies all persons leaving secondary school, having the knowledge, competencies, attitudes and values to become productive members of society.
• The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) is normally written in the Fifth Form
• The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) is written at two levels over two years of study, typically Sixth Form
• Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) is a competency-based certification of technical and/or vocational skills, which prepares students for the world of work in a variety of industries.