Overseas Examinations Commission

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Jamaican students first sat Cambridge Examinations in Jamaica on December 17, 1882, under the auspices of the Governors of the Institute of Jamaica. Boys wrote their examinations at the Collegiate School and girls did the same at the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ). ​​

Five years later, a pivotal development took place in 1887. On November 10, the Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) was formed as a voluntary organisation whose mission was to administer Cambridge Examinations to 47 candidates. This was regarded as a large number back in 1887 and marked a significant step towards the beginning of the OEC’s crucial role in administering international exams.

The burgeoning Commission pivoted from the guidance of the Cambridge Local Examinations Committee (CLEC), which was founded in that same year as the Jamaican based agent of the British-based University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). As an agent of Cambridge, CLEC undertook the responsibility of guaranteeing that schools participating in the Cambridge examinations met the established standards set by Cambridge.

The Hon. Dr James Phillippo was the first Chairman of the IOJ, and he initiated the effort to introduce Cambridge Examinations to Jamaica. He was also the first Chairman of the CLEC since its inception in 1887. The Secretary/Librarian of the IOJ, Mr H. Priest was soon appointed and served as Secretary to the new Committee until 1889.