All children at the age of 11+ to 12 years are eligible for promotion from primary school to secondary school. There is no Common Entrance Examination. Children are mandated to attend the secondary school closest to their primary place of residence. In St. Kitts, students residing in Basseterre, are randomly assigned to one of the two secondary schools in the Basseterre school zone. This process ensures that both schools are relatively matched at the first form level. Effective September 2009, parents/caregivers wishing a child/ward to attend a school other than the assigned secondary school for that feeder area, are to apply in writing to the Chief Education Officer, or Principal Education Officer, Nevis stating the reason for this request and to be available for an interview in this regard. No child (who resides outside of the school feeder area) should be admitted without written approval from the Chief Education Officer.
General Aims of Secondary Education
- To develop skills to facilitate lifelong learning
- To prepare students for the world of work
- To develop skills of conflict resolution and negotiation
- To facilitate the development of parenting skills
Secondary Education consists of a five-year cycle:
- Lower secondary – Forms 1 – 2
- Upper secondary – Forms 3 – 5
The main objective of the lower secondary programme is for students to complete a broad and balanced curriculum, and to develop the knowledge and skills that will enable them to proceed to upper secondary education which follows a course of study as outlined by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). The Upper Secondary programme caters for students in the 14 to 16 years age group. During the final two years of the upper secondary programme students take subjects, each leading to a regional examination administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). The traditional benchmark for graduation from secondary school is performance on the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) which is administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). There are some 31 subjects that are offered by CXC for the CSEC. Schools in St. Kitts and Nevis currently offer about 24-28 of these subjects on the curriculum. The regional indicator for success at CSEC is four subjects, including English, at CSEC General or Technical Proficiency. However, at least five subject passes are needed to apply for most regional colleges and to successful enter the job market in St. Kitts and Nevis