Jamaica releases 2026 PEP results showing gains in literacy and numeracy

Results from the 2026 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations were released on Monday, June 22, allowing parents and guardians to check their children's performance through the DPIS online portal from 2:00 p.m.

A total of 31,806 grade six students sat the tests on April 29 and 30, made up of 15,964 boys and 15,842 girls. The figures were outlined at a press briefing held by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said this year's PEP outcomes point to continued improvement in student performance, even with the introduction of a new literacy and numeracy component. She noted gains across several key areas and said more pupils were placed in one of their preferred secondary schools.

"Ninety percent were placed in a school of their choice," the minister said. "You have seven choices, and 90 percent were placed in one of the ones that they had. But remember, some are placed by proximity. So, if none of your seven are there, the ministry will — and I know some schools do share with the proximity listing — so you are placed at a school that is close to where you live. But only 9 and 1/2 percent of students were placed by proximity."

The ministry also reported that 76 students were excluded from the placement process. These were mainly pupils with special needs, students who asked not to be placed, and private school candidates whose parents wanted only to see how they performed against the wider cohort.

On national performance, Dr. Morris Dixon said the results suggest Jamaica's education system is making steady progress. Foundational numeracy stood at 75 percent, while literacy reached 79 percent. In mathematics, 69 percent of students were rated proficient or highly proficient, and in language arts, 72 percent reached those levels.

"That's our national scorecard," she said. "That's how we did as a country in our PEP 6 exams. We are on the right track."

The education minister said the ministry will continue strengthening literacy and numeracy programmes as it works to improve learning outcomes across the island.