OEC Breaks Ground for State-of-the-Art Multipurpose Facility

The Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) broke ground on Wednesday (September 18), for its more than $1 billion state-of-the-art multipurpose facility, at its Manhattan Road address in Kingston.

Dubbed the ‘Digital Hub’, it will comprise computer labs, augmented/virtual reality labs, and examination rooms.

It will also facilitate the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) operations in Jamaica.

Speaking at the event, Education and Youth Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, said this represents a significant improvement in the administration of examinations.

“This is a testament to our commitment to advancing education through innovation and technology. It aligns perfectly with the Ministry’s Transforming Education for National Development (TREND) programme, which is focused on driving national development through education reform, digital transformation, and modern infrastructure,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the OEC, Brian Bennett-Easy, told JIS News that construction is slated to take place over a period of 18 months.

“This process starts now and by the time we get around to the beginning of 2026, the facility should be up and running,” he said.

He noted that an additional estimated $500 million is to be invested to build out the digital infrastructure of the multipurpose facility.

“[The OEC] is transitioning and enhancing some of the services that are already in place, expanding some of the labs [and creating more space for the organisation’s operations]. We are using this as an opportunity to reset as many digital services as possible,” he said.

Pointing to the significant investments made by the OEC over a number of years in providing digital facilities for schools, Mr. Bennett-Easy said the multipurpose facility will provide enhanced digital capabilities at its headquarters.

“What this facility will allow is for institutions and students who don’t have their own facilities to come here and to sit exams. We are enhancing, expanding and future-proofing the facilities that are here,” he said.

Executive Director of the OEC, Hector Stevenson, said construction of the facility is part of the OEC’s strategic objectives to facilitate the administration of exams in the digital environment.

“As the organisation transforms to become the centre for session-based computerised examination, especially at the post-secondary level in the Caribbean, it must evolve to become the nerve centre for the resolution of technical problems associated with those examinations,” he said.

“It will serve as a centre of excellence providing 24-hour support for assessments, processing, and administration of local and regional examinations,” he added.

The OEC administers the United Kingdom-based international suite of secondary level examinations, as well as the regional Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations. It also administers international professional and semiprofessional examinations for more than 800 examining bodies.