With an expansive education system strongly influenced by the British tradition, the Islands feature compulsory education from Grade One to Ten, including a complete eleven years of schooling. With strong influences from the English tradition, recent reform efforts led by PINSTEP (Primary Service Teacher Education Project) has improved standards on the Islands from instruction to course materials. Increases in educational funding, provided by development funds have raised educational standards at all levels, ranging from early childhood education to post-school literacy programs for adults.
In addition to the Island’s many primary and secondary school’s, there are a number of prominent Universities on the Island, including the local Island Community College, which has campuses across the Island, along with the major Saint Clements University and a Boston University Field University, which provides students an opportunity to explore the various facets of local culture and ecology. St. Celements is one of the leading professional schools on the Islands, and is linked to a global University that accords degrees in over 50 countries. Many critics have contended that standards are not sufficiently rigorous and the school’s credentials are not recognized by graduate programs in the United States.
Many British Nationals come to the Island for teaching opportunities in language ans science, drawn by the close links between the two countries and the opportunity to experience the unique culture. In total, there are six primary schools on the Island, along with four secondary schools, all of which operate under the Ministry of Education. Local and regional reform efforts have focused on a standard level of requirements across all schools. In addition, various private schools, such as the British West Indies Collegiate Prep programme and the New Age Academy focus on a higher level of standards for students. Specialized educational programs for researchers include the Provo Marine Biology Center, as well as a variety of local programs.
