Jamaica Celebrates Strong CAPE and CSEC Exam Results Despite Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica's Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has announced strong preliminary results for the 2026 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. The ministry expressed satisfaction with the students' performance, highlighting a year of resilience and progress despite the disruptive impact of Hurricane Melissa.

A standout achievement is the significant improvement in CSEC mathematics. The pass rate climbed to 48.7% in 2026, marking a substantial increase of 14.2 percentage points over the past three years. This turnaround is particularly noteworthy for Jamaica, where mathematics has historically posed challenges. The ministry credits this success to targeted strategies and interventions, including the EM2 initiative, a partnership with The University of the West Indies and UNICEF aimed at intensive teacher training.

Minister of Education, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon lauded the results as a testament to the hard work and commitment of students, educators, and parents. "These results tell a powerful story of resilience, hard work, and the unwavering commitment of our students and educators," she stated. She emphasized that the gains in mathematics demonstrate the impact of investing in and supporting children, adding, "Every single child who sat these exams has made us proud."

While celebrating the progress, the ministry acknowledged that performance levels are not yet at their desired peak. Jamaica's CSEC English A pass rate remains above the regional average at 83.6%. The overall CAPE pass rate reached 91.7%, with unit 2 achieving 93.9%. The ministry remains committed to continuous efforts to further enhance academic performance across the island.

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These results tell a powerful story of resilience, hard work, and the unwavering commitment of our students and educators. The gains in mathematics, moving from 34.5 per cent to 48.7 per cent in just three years, show that when we invest in and support our children, they deliver. Every single child who sat these exams has made us proud. It was not easy, but they showed up, and they did well. We are seeing the fruits of our collective efforts, and this is just the beginning.