CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has launched a student census that it says will provide the opportunity to directly influence the future of education in the sub-regional grouping.

“Today across our islands, we make history. For the first time anywhere in the world, every student, from kindergarten to secondary, will take part in a single, region-wide student census. Not a sample. Not a survey of a few. A true census giving every child the chance to be heard,” said Dr Didacus Jules, the OECS Director General.

“The OECS is the first region in the world to undertake this total student-voice census and we do it because transformation begins with listening,” he  added.

The head of the Human and Social Division at the OECS Commission, Sisera Simon, said the student census represents a truly transformative step in regional education development in the OECS.

“It presents an opportunity to capture accurate, up-to-date information on every student, we gain the insights needed to shape policies that truly respond to their needs and aspirations. This initiative empowers us to make informed decisions, close gaps, and unlock the full potential of our young people across the region.”

The OECS Student Census initiative is intended to capture the authentic voices of students from kindergarten to Form 5, providing invaluable insights to help governments, educators, and policy-makers build more inclusive, equitable, and student-centred learning environments.

Students in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla  are being invited to anonymously share their honest views and experiences about learning, teaching, and school life.

The OECS said that their voices will provide critical insights to help education leaders understand students’ needs and challenges, improve classroom teaching and school environments, and design inclusive and future-ready education systems.

It said that the data collected will inform the new 10-Year OECS Education Sector Strategy (2027-2037), anchoring it in the lived experiences of students.

The OECS Commission said that all data collected will be made anonymous and kept confidential, ensuring that students can express themselves freely and safely.

“The OECS Student Census will serve as a powerful platform to amplify the voices of over 100,000 learners across the region. It is a bold step toward building more inclusive, equitable, and student-centred education systems that reflect the true realities of learners today.”