NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
The 1999 Education Act (as amended in 2005) is the main regulatory framework in the Saint Lucia education system governing from pre-primary education to tertiary level for both state and non-state educational institutions. The Education Act 2005 distinguishes between different types of non-state education provision in Saint Lucia defining a ‘Private educational institution’ as a school other than a public school or an assisted school which is owned, managed, and financed by trusts, individuals, bodies, or any incorporated or unincorporated bodies and include a school, a class, or an educational institution attended by 12 or more students continuously for more than 8 hours per week which has a permit issued by the Minister.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Saint Lucia most primary school education (ages 5 - 11) and secondary education (ages 12-16) are state schools. Compulsory education covers ages 5 to 15.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are independently owned, managed and financed by non-state actors. In Saint Lucia, there are eight private educational institutions, six at a primary level and two at a secondary level. These types of schools include International Schools and Montessori schools.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
According to the Education Act 1999 (amended 2005), there can be three types of assisted schools in St. Lucia according to ownership. These schools can include a school established and owned by a private proprietor, denominational body, trust, individual, or incorporated or unincorporated body. A school may be jointly owned by the state and a private proprietor or a denominational body or an institution owned by the state but that the Minister dictates that a non-state actor should manage it. All educational institutions mentioned above must have a mutual agreement between the institution and the state to become an assisted school and receive public funding by which they agree to follow the same educational standards as a state school and the national curricula. Types of state assistance include educational institution maintenance, furniture, equipment or buildings, staff salaries, loans, or any other purpose approved by the Minister.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
Homeschool is legal in Saint Lucia. The Education Act 1999 (as amended in 2005) dictates that parents or legal representatives must register their child for a home education program and include information on the educational plan and learning activities based on the national curriculum. The Chief Education Officer may withdraw the permission for homeschooling if the program fails to meet the standards of student achievement.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
The Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations (DOEIGR) governs Saint Lucia's education sector from Early Childhood Care and Education to the tertiary level through level-specific departments.
Vision: Saint Lucia is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the CARICOM community, which guides the national policies in education in the region. The 2015-2020 Education Sector Development Plan includes strengthening corporate partnerships at the local, regional, and international levels to build capacity and access available funds, exploring opportunities for private-public partnerships (PPP) for school infrastructure, and strengthening the ECD sector through private partnerships. The Education Sector Development Plan includes community, churches, and private sectors as partners in the education system.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Most Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) education in Saint Lucia is provided by non-state centers and covers children ages zero to four and is provided by daycare centers (ages cero – two) and preschools institutions (ages three to four). In 2017 enrolment at private daycares represented 48%, while privately owned institutions exclusively provide preschool education. The CARICOM Regional Guidelines for Developing Policy, Regulation and Standards in Early Childhood Development Services set a guideline to align and standardize Early Childhood Development Services throughout the CARICOM community. According to the 1999 Education Act (amended 2005), when the Minister deems it desirable, the Minister may establish a council on early childhood education to advise on policies to guide the implementation of this Division.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
License: See Multi-level regulations.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Although not mandatory, ECCE centers are encouraged to follow the curriculum prescribed by the DOEIGR unit in Early Childhood Service. Early childhood education curricula include initiatives from OECS Early Childhood Care and Education Curriculum Framework. According to the 1999 Education Act (amended 2005), a private educational institution offering early childhood education services shall develop policies and programs consistent with the minister's early childhood services policies, programs, and plans.
Teaching profession: According to the 1999 Education Act (as amended in 2005), the Minister may prescribe academic and professional qualifications for teachers or any other personnel working at the ECCE facility.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: See Multi-level regulations.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: See Multi-level regulations.
Inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Child assessment: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): Private and assisted schools are required to follow the same health and sanitary conditions as those established for state educational institutions. With the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, the minister may order for the closure of any private educational institution to prevent the spread of disease or any other circumstances that might endanger the students' health and the institutions' staff.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Assisted schools must follow the national curricula and learning assessment according to the learning stage.
Textbooks and learning materials: Assisted educational institutions must follow the textbooks prescribed by the DOEIGR based on the national curricula. Denominational schools can include their own textbooks for religious education.
Teaching profession: All private educational institutions are required to employ all their teaching staff with the same minimum qualifications as those required for a teacher at an equivalent state institution. If a teacher does not hold the minimum qualification required, the Chief of Education may declare that the institution ceases to employ the particular teacher.
Corporal punishment: The 1999 Education Act (amended 2005) states that in the enforcement of discipline in public schools, assisted schools and private educational institutions, degrading or injurious punishment shall not be administered.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: The reopening transition is set to happen in April 2021. During the initial lockdowns, learning transitioned to virtual learning for a private and public schools in Saint Lucia. The government provided online resources and ECT training.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: According to the 1999 Education Act (amended 2005), the Minister of Education regulates the admission and transfer of students in state and assisted schools. The Minister may introduce a zoning scheme for schools linking the place of residence of students, parents or legal representative workplace with the location of a school of attendance. A person eligible for admission to a public educational institution or an assisted school as a student shall not be refused admission on any discriminatory grounds, including race, place of origin, political opinion, creed, sex, or disability. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: Assisted schools must be managed by a Board of Management composed of individuals nominated by the proprietor or denomination, the institution's principal, academic staff, a member of the local community, an individual appointed by the Minister, and a member existing of the parent-teacher association. Private schools are not required to establish any governing body, but the DOEIGR encourages the establishment of parent-teacher associations and a national council of parent-teacher associations.
Reporting requirements: All educational institutions (private, assisted and state schools) must maintain a Student Register with each student record enrolled in the educational institution. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
School inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Student assessment: Assisted schools must participate in students assessment, including the National Common Entrance Examination when finalizing primary school in grade sixth and the national assessment in grades two and four. State and non-state educational institutions participate in the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) at the secondary level.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: For establishing an independent tertiary institution, proprietaries must apply for state approval. According to the 1999 Education Act (amended 2005), applications must include the institution's curriculum, admissions criteria, payment fees, staff and their terms of employment, and the disciplinary code. Higher education institutions are also subject to complying with the requirements established under the Accreditation Act 2017. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Licence: Upon fulfilling the requirements for accreditation, a license will be granted for a specific period, subject to renewal. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: For accreditation, the programs must comply with the accreditation standards, and the Council must be satisfied with the study being offered by the tertiary institution.
Teaching profession: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: The Accreditation Act 2017 dictates for all higher education institutions when applying for accreditation to inform about the institution's registry and admissions policy, including standards and recruitment procedures, the conduct of oral and practical exams, and the grading system as a basis of classifying student performance. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: No information was found.
Reporting requirements: According to the Accreditation Act 2017, the National Accreditation Council can undertake evaluations of programmes of study offered by a tertiary institution. The council must keep an Accreditation Register with all accredited institutions operating in St. Lucia. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Inspection: The Accreditation Act 2017 allows the National Accreditation Council to visit the premises of higher education institutions to ensure compliance with the licensing and accreditation requirements. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Assessment: At the moment of accreditation, the institutions must clarify the examination regulations and procedures regarding the written and oral examinations and the grading system.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: Institutions of higher education that cease to comply with licensing and accreditation requirements will be revoked from their accreditation status, therefore the right to operate in St. Lucia. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
This section covers regulations on the establishment, operation, and quality of non-state institutions from early childhood to tertiary education level, based on the 1999 Education Act (amended 2005), which covers all public, assisted private (including denominational schools) and private educational institutions.
Registration and approval: According to the 1999 Education Act (as amended in 2005), to establish and operate a private educational institution (at all levels) in Saint Lucia proprietors must apply for a permit and registration from the Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations. All proprietors must apply following the prescribed form and required documentation. Once an application has been submitted, an inspection will follow to verify the information and determine if the standards are met. Standards include the provision of suitable premises according to the number of students, ages and gender, sufficient financial resources and adequate material and human resources. An assisted school comes into existence by a mutual agreement between the institution and the state for an established period following certain terms, conditions and responsibilities. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Licence: When all the registration requirements are met, a permit to operate will be granted for three years, after which institutions shall apply for renewal. If the conditions are fulfilled, a permit will be issued for five years and renew for the same period afterward. The Minister may issue an operating permit for a different period or without a date of expiry.
Profit-making: Private educational institutions in Saint Lucia can be established as either for-profit or non-profit institutions.
Admission selection and processes: The 1999 Education Act (amended 2005) specifies that any private educational institution which denies admission or expels a student on account of race or political affiliation of the parents is liable to conviction of a monetary fine.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: The Chief Education Officer must keep a Private Educational Institutions Register with all private educational institutions operating in Saint Lucia.
Inspection: The Minister of Education, the Chief Education Officer or any other authorized person may visit and inspect the premises of any private or assisted educational institution during school hours.
Sanctions: The Minister may request for the educational institution's closure when the institution fails to comply with the 1999 Education Act (amended 2005) or any other relevant regulation, or as a consequence of partial or total destruction by a natural disaster. In the case of non-compliance with the regulations, the Minister may serve the institution's proprietor a notice requiring amendments within a specific time. If the proprietor fails to comply with the requirements, the Minister can revoke the permit and registration. Educational institutions can apply for re-registration following particular conditions.
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
