CARICOM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CCDP)

National Census Report 2001, St. Vincent and the GrenadinesAt the primary school level, there were 107 boys for every 100 girls that attended school. Thesex ratio was highest in Sandy Bay, which had 134 boys for every 100 girls and in Barrouallie,which had a sex ratio of 118 8 . There were more boys than girls in all of the administrativedivisions, except two, Marriaqua and North Grenadines had sex ratio o f 96 and 98, respectively.4.3.2 Secondary EducationSecondary education is accepted as an integral part of basic education in St. Vincent and theGrenadines. Therefore, the government also provides free education at this level. Nevertheless,parents have to provide textbooks and other educational supplies. There are 21 secondaryschools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (MEYS, 2004). Entrance to these schools is usually atage 12 and usually ends at age 16. Entrance into secondary schools is determined by the resultsof the Common Entrance Examination that primary school students take in their final year,Grade Six. This examination is standardized throughout the OECS countries, which allows foreasier transfer and placement of student within the region. The secondary school programme hasfive years and the students sit the CXC examinations in Fifth Form.In 2001, 7 290 students were enrolled in secondary school, with the females representing themajority, 4 205 or 57.68 per cent (Table 4.4). For every 73 male secondary school students therewere 100 females. This ratio was even lower in Kingstown Suburb (70), Layou (65), Colonarie(64), and lowest in Bridgetown (63). In none of the administrative divisions were there moremales than females in secondary school. The sex ratio was highest in North Grenadines, whichhad 86 males for every 100 female secondary school students. Barrouallie and Chateaubelairfollowed closely with sex ratio of 84 and 83, respectively.8 No Table was provided by the writer.44