KINGSTON, JAMAICA – The Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) has confirmed that all outstanding payments to invigilators and presiding examiners who served during the 2026 Grade 4 and Grade 5 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations will be completed by Friday, October 16, 2026.
In a statement this week, the Commission reported that it received 845 claims from 537 examination personnel across the two examination sittings. To date, nine of the 15 payment batches have been processed, accounting for 44 per cent of all claims. The remaining six batches are currently being processed, with payments to be made via direct bank transfer.
All claims were submitted to the Commission in June 2026. This examination cycle marked the first time the OEC assumed direct responsibility for processing payments to examination personnel, and the Commission acknowledged that the process has taken significantly longer than anticipated.
Recognising the inconvenience and uncertainty caused by the delays, the OEC has apologised to all affected invigilators and presiding examiners, acknowledging that communication regarding payment timelines was inadequate.
“Our examination personnel did their part. It is our responsibility to pay them promptly and to keep them informed, and we fell short on both this cycle. We are fixing the process so that this does not happen again,” said Hector Stephenson, Executive Director of the OEC.
The Commission further advised that a small number of claims remain outstanding because the payment details submitted were incomplete. The OEC is contacting the individuals concerned directly to obtain the necessary information and has committed to processing these payments as soon as the required details are received.
Examination personnel who have not received payment or notification of a deposit by the end of Friday, October 16, 2026, are encouraged to contact the Commission for assistance. Queries may be directed to help@overseasexams.org.jm, using “PEP Claim” as the email subject, or by calling (876) 618-3721.
Looking ahead, the OEC is implementing measures to strengthen its payment processes and improve communication with examination personnel. For future examination cycles, the Commission will collect complete payment details and provide a payment schedule at the time of engagement, confirm receipt of each claim upon submission, and publish payment progress on its website.
These measures form part of the Commission’s commitment to greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the administration of examination-related payments. The OEC recognises the important contribution of its invigilators and presiding examiners to the successful administration of national examinations and remains committed to ensuring that examination personnel are paid promptly and kept adequately informed throughout the process.
This announcement was also reported by the Jamaica Observer. Readers can access the original news article, “OEC to complete outstanding PEP exam payments by Friday”, on the Jamaica Observer website for further details.