at age students sit for the caribbean examinations council cxc examinations the equivalent of general certificate of education gce olevels at around the age of those students who continue at school can sit for the caribbean advanced proficiency examinations equivalent to gce alevel also set by the council a strong emphasis on education has resulted in a national literacy rate of around per cent which is one of the highest in the world barbados education education is promoted nationally as a lifelong activity which seeks to produce culturallybased technologicallydriven diverse and dynamic outcomes for all of its citizens the university of the west indies uwi which has a high reputation for its standards operates three campuses in the caribbean with the cave hill campus located in barbados