The Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) is a Public Body under the Ministry of Education, Jamaica, established by an Act of Parliament (2005) and the strategic outcome following the evolution of its predecessor entities through the years, since 1887.
Guided by its Core Values of Integrity, Reliability, Innovation and Efficiency, the Strategic Mission of the OEC is to efficiently and effectively administer access to examinations and provide applicable accompanying support services at the highest level of customer satisfaction.
For over 129 years The OEC has been in service to the Government and people of Jamaica and acts as a Proctoring (Supervisory) Body for many Overseas Examining Boards for Secondary and Tertiary Level Education.
Over the years the OEC has administered, not just the Secondary School General Cambridge International Examinations [GCE] and Caribbean Examinations Council [CXC], but examinations for over 46 post-secondary and professional bodies. These include the University of London (External Programme), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants [ACCA] and the Royal College of Physicians. The OEC has also been named a Cambridge International Partner in recognition of the work carried out on its behalf in Jamaica.
The increasing number of examining bodies now utilizing the services of the Commission demonstrates that the organisation has earned a sound international reputation for administering examinations. The OEC has proven to be an invaluable source of employment to a cadre of supervisors and invigilators. In 2010, it became a Statutory Board of Government and in 2017, it celebrated 130 years of service to the people of Jamaica.
The Overseas Examinations Commission, like its predecessors, receives no subvention or any other type of financial assistance from the Government of Jamaica. It finances its operations through Examination Fees, examination-related material, Service Charges for the preparation of Transcripts, The Certification of Results, Seminars and Workshops for Private Candidates.
The memory of the Founding Fathers should be treasured for their spirit of voluntarism and the vision that laid the foundation for the successful operations of the OEC, as we know it today.