A new student census has found a sharp decline in how much children on island enjoy school as they move from primary into secondary education.
The OECS Student Census gathered responses from 555 students across all three primary school and the secondary school on island.
The report found that 95.6 percent of Kindergarten to Grade 2 students say they like school. However, that figure falls to 83.2 percent among students in Grades 3 to 6.
Among students entering the Montserrat Secondary
School, only 40.7 percent of Forms 1 to 3 students say they enjoy going to school.
The figure remains low among Forms 4 and 5 students, at 39.4 percent.
The report describes the change between primary and secondary school as a “transition cliff,” with school enjoyment falling by 42.5 percentage points.
The decline is accompanied by a drop in students’ perception of teacher support and academic confidence.
Only 65.7 percent of Forms 1 to 3 students, and 66 percent of Forms 4 to 5 students say their teachers help them when they struggle.
The report also raises concerns about students’ sense of belonging.
Just 42.6 percent of Forms 4 and 5 students say they feel they belong and are respected at school.
While 59.5 percent of senior secondary boys say they feel respected and that they belong, the figure for girls is just 28.8 percent.
The report says this is the largest gender difference identified in the census and recommends an immediate inquiry into the experience of senior secondary girls.
The full report can be found on www.gov.ms.