Although the Cayman Islands is not a welfare state, the
Government has invested heavily
in education, providing free
schooling for Caymanian children
4-16 years old, and achieving a
90% literacy rate. Schooling is
mandatory for all legally
resident children in this age
group, and is enforced by the
Education Department and the
courts. Government schools are
based upon the English system,
with primary schools (4-11 year
olds) in each district, two
Government high schools (11-16
year olds), a University College
and a Law School in George Town.
Cayman Brac has two primary
schools and a high school,
providing full education for
4-16 year olds. There is also a
private day-care centre.
Government high schools follow
the CXC (Caribbean Examinations
Council) curriculum, roughly
equivalent to the English GCSE,
and also offer a range of other
external examinations to meet
all ability levels, including
IGCSE (the international version
of the GCSE), Pitman's and City
and Guilds. The University
College offers a wide range of
vocational training geared to
local needs (business, hotel and
building trades for example) as
well as associate degrees in a
range of majors. It also offers
recreational courses, including
evening classes.
