The Education Ministry is seeing positive results from the pilot programmes it implemented in primary schools, to increase the literacy rate among those students.

The Ministry is aiming for a rate of at least 80% this year.

Portfolio Minister Fayval Williams notes that at the last measure in 2019, the literacy rate at the grade four level was 83%.

The tests were not administered in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but the 2022 tests showed significant impact caused by the pandemic.

Mrs. Williams gave an update on the Literacy Education Acceleration Programme (LEAP).

She notes that the second pilot initiative – the Creative Language-based Learning Foundations Programme – is also seeing good results.

She was speaking at a post cabinet press briefing this morning (October 25).