PRIMARY EDUCATION

Primary education begins at age 5 in the English-speaking Caribbean. In the Netherlands Antilles, it begins at age 6. Primary schooling ends at age 11 in most countries, with the exception of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, and the Netherlands Antilles where it ends at age 12, and Montserrat and St. Lucia where it ends at age 12.5 and age 17 respectively.

In most countries, standardised tests are given at the end of the sixth grade of primary education for admission to enter secondary education. The emphasis is on academics, and language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies are the main areas tested.

The main features of Primary Education are:

• Type of school: Primary School
• Length of program: 6 – 8 years
• Entrance age: 5 – 7

Primary Education is often further divided into:

• Infants (usually Levels 1 – 2)
• Primary (usually Levels 3 – 5)
• In some territories Primary Education and the lower levels of Secondary Education may be combined into a Senior or All-Age school