A DELEGATION of 10 esteemed representatives from Grenada, Saint Lucia, OECS (Dominica), OECS (Saint Lucia), Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda are currently participating in a comprehensive knowledge exchange program with Guyana’s Ministry of Education.

The focal point of this collaborative initiative is to gain insights into Guyana’s recently launched Education Management Information System (EMIS) on October 30th, 2023.

According to the Ministry of Education, the EMIS is an Educational Management Information System designed to gather, integrate, process, maintain, and disseminate data and information. It plays a pivotal role in decision-making, policy analysis, formulation, planning, monitoring, and management across all levels of an education system. By integrating individuals, technology, models, methods, processes, procedures, rules, and regulations, EMIS empowers decision-makers, managers, and general users with access to pertinent data for informed decision-making.
The primary objective of the visiting delegation, the Education Ministry noted is to acquire knowledge on the technical, financial, human, and software aspects required to develop a fit-for-purpose EMIS for their respective Ministries of Education.

The visit, scheduled from December 12 to 15, 2023, aims to achieve the following key objectives: Understanding Guyana’s Ministry of Education EMIS: Delving into the intricacies of Guyana’s EMIS and exploring its functionalities; Discussion on the Development Process: Engaging in discussions regarding the process that led to the development of the EMIS, including expectations for necessary resources; Appreciation for Challenges and Mitigation Strategies: Gaining insights into the challenges associated with EMIS implementation and learning about the mitigation strategies employed; As part of the itinerary, the delegation will actively participate in discussions with various officers from the Ministry of Education and visit schools that utilise the EMIS on a daily basis.

Delegation Members include: Mr. Raúl Chacón – Program Director – Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Regional Hub; Mar Botero – Project Manager – KIX LAC – SUMMA; Ms. Nailah James – Education Planner – Grenada; Ms. Schnelle Leonce – Education Planner – Saint Lucia; Ms. Nadette Langford – Senior Technical Specialist – Data – OECS (Dominica); Mr. Germain Anthony – Senior Technical Specialist – Education – OECS (Saint Lucia); Ms. Bekissa Robinson – Statistician – Dominica; Mr. Keith Thomas – Education Planner – St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Ms. Jem Lafraichere – IT Coordinator (Board of Education) – Antigua and Barbuda; Ms. Shelly Galloway – Education Officer, and Knowledge Management (Ministry of Education) – Antigua and Barbuda.

Meanwhile, Leading Officers from the Ministry of Education includes: Mr. Saddam Hussain – Chief Education Officer; Mrs. Nicola Johnson – Chief Planning Officer; Ms. Yoganand Indarsingh – Head – Management Information Systems Unit; Mr. Phil Mingo – Head of Information Systems; and Dahvis Caldeira – Senior Statistician and other officers from the Ministry.

The Ministry of Education noted that it remains committed to fostering regional collaboration and knowledge exchange, thereby supporting the advancement of education management systems across the Caribbean.