Falling birthrate reshaping Saint Lucia’s schools

Saint Lucia’s steadily declining birthrate is beginning to have a significant impact on the nation’s education sector.

Schools are merging, teaching jobs are vanishing steadily, and officials are working to adapt an education system built for a larger population.

According to World Bank data, the birthrate has fallen from 15.49 per 1 000 people in 2003 to 12.44 in 2013, and most recently to 11 in 2023.

Public primary schools have lost over 1 700 students since 2016, while secondary enrollment dropped by nearly 2 000.

Education officials say the shrinking numbers are more than a demographic issue; they are driving a fundamental reassessment of how schools operate, what is taught and how educators are deployed.

The ripple effects are already here. Milet Infant and Primary, Gros Islet Infant and Primary, and Patience and Mon Repos Primary have merged to survive. More closures are possible.

“And then you have a number of other schools now where the population is low, creating space at the schools,” said Cyrus Cepal, education officer for District 1.

Staffing challenges

The declining student population has introduced staffing challenges, particularly in schools now considered overstaffed. This has led to difficult decisions about teacher deployment.

While permanent teachers are unlikely to be displaced, some may be reassigned to other schools, and temporary contracts may not be renewed. “Sad to say, temporary teachers may eventually need to be sent home, or their appointment may not continue,” Cepal said.

The 35-year education veteran has also observed a trend of teachers seeking more stable opportunities abroad, particularly in the northern Caribbean, where student demand is higher and prospects more secure.

Those who choose to remain may find opportunities in more specialised roles. In response to the shifting landscape, education officials are rethinking teaching models, including expanded use of specialist instruction. If, for example, a school identifies weaknesses in key subject areas like literacy or numeracy, a specialist may be brought in to implement targeted interventions for underperforming students.

Looking ahead, new teachers may face limited placement opportunities unless they are trained in these specialised subject areas, Cepal said.

There might be an upside

But shrinking school populations may not be entirely negative.

“What you find also is that even at the primary schools where the numbers are much lower now, the teachers have a smaller group to work with,” Cepal said.

Smaller class sizes allow for more individualised attention and a more tailored approach to instruction.

“Now the schools have a number of coaches and specialist teachers… so therefore we expect a higher level of productivity when it comes to academics,” Cepal said.

At the secondary school level, long-term reforms are also under consideration to ensure students graduate with better outcomes. Rather than focusing solely on traditional academic subjects like Maths, English, the sciences, humanities and the arts—typically examined through the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)—education officials are exploring a model that also equips students with career-based qualifications such as the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).

“The whole idea is to prepare students. Therefore, whatever your career path will be, then the education system will prepare you for that,” Cepal said.

He believes this could also help address the growing concern around Saint Lucia’s shortage of skilled tradespeople such as carpenters and masons.

It’s a shift that signals not only a new approach to education, but one that is increasingly aligned with Saint Lucia’s changing demographics and evolving workforce needs.