Primary and Secondary Education in Guyana
A 12-year system of education with children starting school at age 6.
- Primary education is 6 years in duration, and runs from grade one through six (ages 6-11).
- Upper Secondary Education is 5 years (ages 12-16). Students attending senior secondary schools attend from Grade 7 to Grade 11 for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and move on to Grade 12 if interested in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) qualification. CSEC is equivalent to the UK's General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and CAPE to A-levels.
- CSEC is equivalent to U.S. high school graduation.
Most schools follow the academic year that begins in September and runs through July. It consists of three terms of instruction of 13 weeks each. Schools are in operation five hours per day, five days a week (Monday through Friday), approximately 189 days a year.
The Ministry of National Education is responsible for implementing education policy and regulations.
Grade conversion scale for Guyana:
Grade Scale |
U.S. Grade Equivalence |
85-100 |
A |
75-84 |
B |
65-74 |
C |
50-64 |
D |
| 0-49 | F |
Credentials:
- Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)
