Saint Lucia has recorded its strongest performance in five years in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) assessments, outperforming the regional average and making notable gains across several subject areas.
The Ministry of Education released the 2025 results on Thursday, August 21, highlighting steady progress in English and other disciplines, though Mathematics continues to pose a challenge for many students.
More than 100,000 candidates across the Caribbean sat over 600,000 subject entries in this year’s exams, which included the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC).
Regionally, CXC reported improved outcomes, with 44% of candidates achieving five or more passes, including Mathematics and English, up from 41% in 2024.
At the national level, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr Pauline Antoine-Prospere, described the results as both “encouraging and instructive”.
“These results reflect the dedication of our students, teachers, and parents,” she said. “And they give us a clear picture of where we are excelling and where we must focus more effort.”
Saint Lucia’s overall pass rate at the CSEC level reached 78.05%, its highest in five years and well above the regional average of 71%. English A continued to show steady improvement, with an 85% pass rate compared to the regional mark of 80%. Mathematics, however, remained a concern, with a national pass rate of just 42%, though still ahead of the regional average of 38%.
“Mathematics continues to challenge students not only in Saint Lucia but across the region,” Antoine-Prospere noted. “But in Saint Lucia, we are determined to strengthen teaching strategies, provide additional support, and close the gap.”
In the CAPE examinations, 225 Saint Lucian students participated, achieving an impressive 96.8% overall pass rate, ranking the island fifth in the region. Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary led national performance with a 98.9% pass rate, while Sir Arthur Lewis Community College maintained a strong 94.8%.
Students achieved 100% passes in Communication Studies, Caribbean Studies, and Literatures in English.
For the CCSLC exams, 217 entries were submitted from six schools, resulting in a 77% overall pass rate. Spanish emerged as a standout subject with a 100% pass rate, while Mathematics and Digital Literacy remained areas of concern.
Acting Chief Registrar of Exams, Patterson Abraham, acknowledged the progress but urged stakeholders to remain focused on persistent challenges.
“Our strengths in English and our regional competitiveness show that Saint Lucia is ready to compete,” he said. “But our challenges remain in the areas of Mathematics and Digital Literacy. This year, Mathematics was again our sore point across all levels. We need to put a lot more effort into this subject.”
Abraham also commended Patricia D. James Secondary School for achieving 100% passes among its CCSLC candidates, calling it a standout performer.
Both Abraham and Antoine-Prospere praised the collective efforts of students, teachers, principals and parents, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to targeted interventions. These include enhanced teacher training, strengthened numeracy initiatives at the early-childhood level, and resources such as laptops and subsidised exam fees for key subjects.
“We cannot be satisfied until more of our students are excelling,” Antoine-Prospere said. “But today, we celebrate resilience, hard work, and the achievements that show Saint Lucia is moving in the right direction.”
