Dominica’s secondary education system has served generations, but it is time for a change. Currently, Dominican students must complete five years of high school followed by two years of college just to qualify for university. By the time North American students are entering university, our Dominican students are still two years behind, held back by an outdated, overly long education system that fails to meet global standards.
For example, students in:
- Canada
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan
- South Korea
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
all graduate after 12 or 13 years of high school and enter university or college immediately. By the end of Grade 12 (Form 5) or Grade 13, they already have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in higher education – all without spending two extra years in Dominica State College in a pre-university program designed merely as preparation for universities or colleges abroad.
A New, Innovative Approach for Dominica
We offer a modern, innovative approach for Dominica, one that redesigns our education system to better serve students, families, and our country. Starting in Grades 11 (Form 4) through Grade 12 (Form 5), students would choose an academic or applied pathway:
Academic Pathway
Prepares students for college and university by focusing on critical thinking, advanced mathematics, sciences, humanities, and research skills. This pathway builds strong academic foundations, independent learning, and global standards of excellence, ensuring students graduate fully ready for higher education at home or abroad.
Applied Pathway
Prepares students for skilled trades, technical, and professional careers through hands-on learning and practical training. This pathway values real-world skills, diplomas, certifications, and experience, leading directly to meaningful employment while keeping future education options open, including college and university.
This system equips high school students for university or college by the end of Grade 12, eliminating the need for two extra years of post-secondary education.
Transforming Dominica State College
At that point, Dominica State College can truly operate as a real post-secondary institution, offering genuine college-level courses, diplomas, technical training, and certifications that carry real value in Dominica and abroad – without wasting space and resources on pre-university programs that students no longer need.
Imagine this: Dominica State College no longer spends time and resources on pre-university programs. Instead, it focuses entirely on real post-secondary education. Students walk in with a clear goal, ready to study college-level courses, technical programs, and certifications that matter.
For Students:
- Learning skills that directly prepare them for careers in Dominica and abroad.
- Earning diplomas and certifications with real-world value.
- Spending less time in unnecessary preparatory programs, saving money and energy.
- Having a clear, respected path to higher education or the workforce.
For Dominica State College:
- Resources and faculty can focus on high-quality teaching and training.
- Programs can be modernized to meet global standards.
- The college becomes a center of excellence, attracting local and regional students.
- Graduates leave with skills and knowledge that make them employable and competitive globally.
The result? A college that empowers students, strengthens Dominica’s workforce, and earns respect at home and abroad. No wasted years. No unnecessary programs. Just real education with real impact.
Modernizing Assessment: Goodbye to CXC Exams
Under this new system, the outdated Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams will be permanently removed. Academic achievement will instead be based on performance throughout students’ academic or applied years. This change:
- Reduces stress and anxiety caused by high-stakes, one-time exams.
- Eliminates unnecessary testing.
- Ensures fair evaluation of a student’s consistent learning and skills.
- Provides equal opportunity for every student to pursue university or college, removing segregation based on exam results or arbitrary cutoffs.
The first two years of high school will give students time to:
- Build foundational knowledge and skills needed to choose the right pathway in Grade 11.
- Explore subjects broadly, discovering strengths and interests.
- Enjoy the learning environment, with time to participate in school clubs, sports, arts, and community activities.
- Develop leadership, social, and emotional skills, becoming well-rounded individuals.
This approach ensures students are recognized for their abilities and dedication, not just a single test score. Everyone who wants to pursue higher education will now have the ability to do so.
Benefits for Children and Families
Redesigning the system will deliver clear, tangible benefits:
- Reduced financial burden: Families no longer pay for two extra years of college just to prepare students for university.
- Time saved: Students reach university or career opportunities two years earlier, giving them a head start.
- Choice and engagement: Students select a pathway suited to their skills and interests, keeping them motivated and engaged.
- Better preparation: Children receive the right education at the right time, improving success in university or the workforce.
- Less stress: Clear pathways and shorter timelines reduce uncertainty, anxiety, and burnout for students and parents alike.
A University for Dominica
As part of the Dominica Reform Party’s vision, we plan to build a government-owned university right here in Dominica. This ensures that students no longer have to leave the island for higher education. By studying locally:
- More children can continue their education without disruption.
- Families save on costly overseas tuition.
- Dominica can retain and develop its brightest minds and skills.
For 25 years, Roosevelt Skerrit and his administration – and all these fake parties—have done nothing to improve post-secondary education. It is time to change that. By modernizing our system and creating a local university, we will give Dominican children—and students from neighboring islands world-class opportunities while building a stronger, smarter country.
Regional Leadership in Education
The Dominica Reform Party’s vision extends beyond Dominica. We will encourage other Caribbean islands to adopt a similar system, allowing their students to advance faster and compete globally. Students from neighboring islands who meet pre-set academic standards—such as grade percentages and knowledge levels—will be welcomed to study in Dominica.
This brings multiple benefits:
- Building skilled labor locally: Students gain advanced knowledge and practical skills that contribute directly to Dominica’s workforce if they stay.
- Fostering regional collaboration: Shared education opportunities strengthen ties between islands and create a stronger Caribbean network.
- Welcoming diversity and talent: Whether students remain in Dominica or return home, their skills benefit the region as a whole.
Time for Action
The time for talk is over. Promises have been made by all parties, but none have been kept, and no solutions for our children or our nation’s future have been offered. The Dominica Reform Party has a plan, has solutions, and has your back. We are committed to:
- Modernizing education.
- Creating opportunities at home.
- Removing outdated exams and unnecessary barriers.
- Creating a better college program.
- Building a university.
- Investing in the next generation.
The time has come for Dominica to step onto the global stage. If we want the world to take us seriously, to trust us, to welcome us into their markets, and to compete in the global economy, we must act like they do. We must be modern, efficient, and confident. We must innovate, plan, and empower our children to succeed. Only then will other nations have confidence in us—and only then will Dominica truly earn its place in the world.
Our youth deserve to thrive, to compete globally, and to make our nation stronger. With the Dominica Reform Party, it is not just talk—it is action. The time to deliver is now.