Education, Skills. Youth and Information Archives

The Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) was established by an Act of Parliament in 2005 as the only organisation mandated by the Government of Jamaica to administer external examinations. The Commission partners with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and various external examining bodies on key initiatives related to the administration of local and international examinations.

For the 2026/27 financial year, the OEC’s strategies will focus on achieving long-term financial sustainability, expanding and strengthening business activities, and implementing targeted marketing initiatives to meet performance targets. Key priorities include promoting affordable access to examinations by strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders to reduce examination costs; and implementing targeted marketing initiatives to promote transcripts and results verification services through engagement at College Fairs and Open Days, as well as increased promotion of the January and June examination sittings, among others.

The Commission will also fast-track the expansion of new business opportunities, including the establishment of a Customer Engagement Centre, a Virtual Science Facility, and a Data Centre, with at least two Memoranda of Understanding already signed to provide data storage services.

The Commission projects a surplus of $25.34 million for 2026/27.

The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.) is a public university established in 1958 as the Jamaica Institute of Technology and granted full university status on 1 September 1995 under the University of Technology, Jamaica Act 27 of 1999.

UTech is one of the island’s leading tertiary institutions with a student population exceeding 11,500. The university offers over 100 programmes across faculties of Business & Management, Health Sciences, Engineering & Computing, Law, Education, and the Built Environment, at certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.

UTech is governed by a University Council and funded primarily through annual subventions from the Government of Jamaica, supplemented by student tuition and fees. For the 2026/27, the government has allocated 3.8 billion to support the university.