–other crucial topics at meeting of officials ahead the 48th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Education

CHAIR of the Meeting of Officials ahead of the 48th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Education, and Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Human Resource and Educational Development at the Ministry of Education, Grenada, Elvis Morain, said: “When we look at transforming education in the Region, we do so against the backdrop of shaping one prosperous common future for all.”

The CARICOM Secretariat hosted the virtual meeting on Friday, October 18, to provide a platform for stakeholders in the region’s education sector to discuss critical issues, including implementing the CARICOM Human Resource Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy, education transformation, a whole-of-education approach to violence against women and girls, and strengthening the education system.

Mathematics education and assessment and the Caribbean Development Bank’s Model Special Education Needs Policy for the CARICOM Region were also discussed.
The meeting also received a report by the CARICOM Secretariat on the Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Education Transformation, which was hosted on October 2-4 in the Cayman Islands.
During his remarks, the Chair asserted that the Meeting’s deliberations on optimising the CARICOM Human Resource and Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy, will support achieving the Region’s ambitious educational goals for 2030.

“We stand on the cusp of 2030 when so many of our ambitious educational goals are to be achieved. For this reason, I am pleased to see that today’s agenda allows for a discussion of how the implementation of the CARICOM HRD 2030 Strategy can be optimised,” Morain said.
In highlighting the Meeting’s focus on transforming education in the CARICOM Region, the Chair also expressed his optimism that the discussions will help to create opportunities for partnerships across Member States to share experiences, ideas and innovative practices. He underscored that a united focus on collaboration across Member States was crucial.

“As we discuss the strategic actions that we will take to strengthen the Region’s Education System, I encourage you to see the Caribbean Community as One People. As we review the CARICOM Human Resource Development 2030 Strategy, we do so knowing that we are on One Journey – even if we are at different points. And when we look at transforming education in the Region, we do so against the backdrop of shaping One prosperous common Future for all,” the Chair related.

Permanent Secretaries from Ministries of Education, Chief Education Officers, Chief Technical Experts and other Regional Stakeholders participated in this one-day session.
Regional and International Partners, the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA), the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Commonwealth Secretariat, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and The University of the West Indies (UWI) also contributed.

In her remarks, the Director of Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Helen Royer, advocated for an inclusive and strategic approach to effectively respond to the emerging challenges faced by the Region’s education system, including the gaps resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Royer echoed the Chair’s appeal for collaboration among CARICOM education stakeholders.
“Be mindful that moving the education agenda forward is not only necessary but imperative if we are to remain relevant and achieve the [Sustainable Development Goals] SDGs. This will require collaboration among all partners.
“The Secretariat recognises and applauds the continued commitment of education professionals and regional and international partners for their valuable contributions. You have continued to provide leadership and strategic direction to the education sector. Your expertise and commitment will continue to shape and enhance the future of education across the Region,” the director said.

The critical issues and decisions from this meeting will form a pivotal part of the discussions for the 48th COHSOD – Education scheduled for October 24-25 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. (CARICOM)