Montserrat is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Democratic and parliamentary, the dependency is headed by a Minister. Executive and legislative power is vested in the government and the Legislative Council. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The Governor is appointed by the Queen as head of state. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor from among the members of the Legislative Council. The Cabinet is also appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Council. The New People's Liberation Party lost its majority in the Legislative Council of Montserrat in the 2006 election. The judiciary is independent.

The eruption of the island's volcano in 1995 and the consequent evacuation of Montserrat made it one of the most economically dependent territories. The eruptions have continued and have devastated Montserrat physically, socially and economically. Two-thirds of the population of 12,000 left for neighbouring countries. Only the Northern part of the island remains habitable. At least half the island is expected to remain uninhabitable until at least 2010, and part of Montserrat will remain permanently unfit for habitation.

Health risks from ash and sulphuric acid have affected both teachers and their students. School buildings and homes were destroyed. Education is free and compulsory to age 14 and free to age 17. After the volcanic eruption, 11 primary schools were reduced to 2. The comprehensive secondary school has reopened and offers Caribbean Advanced Proficiency examinations.

The government is supporting initiatives in the areas of curriculum development, student assessment and evaluation, professional development for teachers, post-secondary education expansion, and educational infrastructure and information technology use in cooperation with the United Kingdom.

The relocation of the regional University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies to Olveston for the 2002-03 academic year helped Montserrat, but nearly two-thirds of the population remain abroad. Teachers and students living on the island continue to teach and learn in a stressful environment with an uncertain future.

A 2-year programme begins at age 3. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 77%. Of the 9 teachers working at this level, all are women and all are trained. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 14 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 5 to 14. Primary school begins at age 5 and continues for 7 years. At this level 37% of education is private. The NER is 94% (45% female). 3% of students repeat grades. 22 teachers, all women, work at this level, and 86% of them are trained. The PTR is 21 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and is completed in 5 years. The NER is 100%. There are 30 secondary teachers, 19 (58% female) in lower secondary and 11 (64% female) in upper secondary. 70% for secondary teachers are trained. The PTR is 9 : 1 in secondary school.

40 students study overseas: in United Kingdom (28), USA (6), Trinidad and Tobago (4) and Cuba (2).

The Montserrat Red Cross School for disabled children is the only provision on the island for children with special educational needs. The school was badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo but was refurbished and relocated in the northern safe zone.

No refugees are reported to live in Montserrat, but citizens of Montserrat are refugees in neighbouring countries. In 2005, the US Dept. of Homeland Security revoked the temporary protected status of 292 Montserrat refugees, a number of whom have lived in the United States since the volcanic eruption and have rebuilt their lives there.

Regional migrant workers have traditionally worked in Montserrat, but the government of Montserrat does not collect data on the origin of returning citizens and few migrant workers are reported.

Reports do not cite restriction of academic freedom.

Women in Montserrat did not take an active political role, but this has changed. The current incumbent is the first female Governor of Montserrat, and half of the Executive Council are women. Women are entering typically male-dominated professions, but few men engage themselves in female-dominated professions.

Statistics on the number of working children under age 15 in Montserrat are unavailable, and no information is available on the incidence and nature of child labour.

The small number of teachers that remain on Montserrat have maintained an education organisation. No information is available on trade union rights. The ILO Conventions ratified by the United Kingdom apply in Montserrat.