Regional educators and stakeholders to meet in Cayman Islands

A three-day Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education in the Caribbean gets underway in the Cayman Islands on October 2, as the education systems across the region grapple with challenges of inequality and outdated approaches.

The symposium is being hosted by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and will bring together key regional stakeholders to determine methods for transforming the delivery of education across the Caribbean.

It is being held in collaboration with the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the St. Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, and The University of the West Indies (The UWI).

The organisers said that the event will target education ministers, educators, policymakers, youth, teachers, civil society organisations, and social development entities.

“With over 150 individuals expected to participate, the Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education will explore strategies for reimagining teaching practices, expanding access to education, and fostering innovative, effective leadership for the teaching and training sector,” the CDB said.

It said that the symposium will focus on five thematic areas, reflecting priorities identified at the 2022 Global Transforming Education Summit. These themes include inclusive, equitable, safe, and healthy schools; learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development; teachers, teaching, and the teaching profession; digital learning and transformation; and financing education.

“Discussions will centre on leadership transformation, revamping teaching and learning methods, and expanding reach. The three days of meetings will culminate in the development of a consensus-driven roadmap for education transformation—the Agenda for Action. This document will serve as the foundation for sustained efforts to improve educational outcomes across the region,” the CDB confirmed.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Bennett, said the CARICOM Secretariat is pleased to partner on this critical issue of transforming education in the region.

“Stakeholder participation in education is not just the goal of transformation, but the principal methodology. We underscore the value of a whole-of-society approach to education transformation,” she said.

OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, said over the past 40 years, efforts to transform Caribbean education have seen limited success, failing to fundamentally reshape the system.

“From July to September 2024, Google reported 315,000 articles on the ‘Caribbean Education Crisis’, reflecting widespread concern. This conference is a timely opportunity to confront this crisis and chart a decisive path toward rethinking and transforming Caribbean education,” said Dr Jules, a former  registrar of the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

CDB Acting President, Isaac Solomon, said that the Symposium aligns with the United Nations’ Transforming Education Agenda, which seeks to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal Four: inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.

“CDB is committed to advancing education as a cornerstone of regional development. This symposium represents a pivotal moment for us to address the critical challenges facing our education systems and to drive transformative change,” Solomon said.

“By bringing together key stakeholders, we aim to craft actionable strategies that will ensure our education systems are more inclusive, equitable, and prepared for the future,” he added.

The symposium is the first in a series of activities to be carried out by CDB and development institutions under the Transforming Education thrust. —GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CMC)

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