Students who sat this year’s Grade Six Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams showed notable gains in Mathematics and Language Arts, despite disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa, according to Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon.
Speaking at the release of the 2026 PEP results on Monday, Morris Dixon said the performance reflected the resilience of Jamaica’s education system after a challenging academic year.
“We are on the right track,” she said, highlighting gains across key subject areas and the introduction of literacy and numeracy assessments at the Grade Six level for the first time.
In Mathematics, 69 per cent of students achieved proficiency or higher, up from 57 per cent in 2023 and just one percentage point below the ministry’s 70 per cent target. In Language Arts, 72 per cent of students were rated proficient or highly proficient, exceeding the ministry’s target and improving from 60 per cent in 2023.
The ministry also reported strong results in the new assessments, with 79 per cent of students achieving mastery in literacy and 75 per cent in numeracy. Morris Dixon explained that the literacy assessment measures functional literacy, including comprehension, analysis, inference, and interpretation, rather than basic reading alone.
“We actually are doing comprehension and not simple reading and writing,” she said.
Despite the gains, the year was significantly affected by Hurricane Melissa, which disrupted schooling across seven parishes and impacted about 440 schools and roughly 12,860 students, or about one-third of all candidates. However, the ministry said there was no evidence of performance decline among students in affected areas compared with previous years or with students in unaffected parishes.
Morris Dixon praised teachers, principals, parents, and students for maintaining learning despite damaged schools, trauma, and loss of materials. “We persevered as a country,” she said.
The ministry also noted a continued decline in the number of students sitting the exam, with about 3,000 fewer candidates than in 2024. A total of 971 schools participated, including 754 public and 217 private institutions.
In school placement, 99 per cent of students were assigned to secondary schools, with 90 per cent placed in one of their chosen schools. About 24 per cent gained their first choice, while nearly 60 per cent secured one of their top three selections.
The ministry said the new assessments will help identify learning gaps and guide targeted support. Students performing at the lowest levels, as well as those just below mastery, will receive remedial assistance before entering secondary school.
Morris Dixon urged parents to celebrate their children’s achievements regardless of school placement, stressing that the results reflect national progress and resilience despite adversity.