An updated National Literacy Policy and Strategy designed to address Anguilla’s education gaps is nearing completion and will be submitted to the public for review in April.
An initial draft was completed in February and submitted to a review committee during the first week of March before being returned to the technical team for further refinement.
The next step will involve a series of internal consultations, followed by public engagement to allow stakeholders to review and help shape the draft.
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In a press release on 9 March, chief education officer Bren Romney said the update was necessary as the existing policy and strategy has been in effect since 2010.
“The education landscape has shifted significantly since then,” the head of the Department of Education said.
“Technology and approaches to literacy have transformed the teaching and learning environment, and the department needed to respond to strengthen student achievement.”
The government has allocated EC$600,000 in the 2026 Budget to support implementation of the policy, which is expected to take effect in September with the start of the new academic year.
During a government press conference on 9 March, education minister Shellya Rogers-Webster said: “I don’t think it’s a surprise that we’ve been having some challenges in that area for quite a number of years.
“Data will show you that there are significant gaps with our literacy and our numeracy rates, and it is extremely important that we put a strategy in place to address those concerns.”
She added that whole she cannot confirm exactly the content of the framework prior to its publication, it addresses two major elements.
Firstly, it outlines the methods used to assess reading levels and target students in need with appropriate interventions.
Secondly, it introduces a broader initiative to integrate reading instruction across all core subjects, supporting literacy teachers in their work, the education minister said.
The initiative originated from the Office of the Chief Education Officer in collaboration with the Curriculum Division.
