The Eleventh Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD XI) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was convened at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown, Guyana on 28-29 October 2004, under the theme, “Investing in Human Resources with Special Reference to Education and Training.”
The Meeting was chaired by Sen. the Hon. Hazel Manning, Minister of Education, Trinidad and Tobago and Outgoing Chairperson of the COHSOD, at the request of the Incumbent, Hon. Bertrand Joseph, Minister of Education, Antigua and Barbuda, whose arrival had been delayed as a result of transportation difficulties.
In attendance were: Hon. Bertrand Joseph, Minister of Education, Antigua and Barbuda; Hon. Reginald Farley, Minister of Education, Barbados; Hon. Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Education, Guyana; Hon. Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, Jamaica; Hon. Mario Michel, Minister of Education, Saint Lucia; Hon. Michael R.C. Browne, Minister of Education, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Hon. Walter Sandriman, Minister of Education, Suriname; and Hon. Lloyd Black, Minister of Education, British Virgin Islands.
Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands were also represented.
Also present were the following institutions: the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); University of the West Indies (UWI); Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM); Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions; Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL); Caribbean Examination Council (CXC); Caribbean Youth Ambassadors Programme (CYAP); National Training Agency, Trinidad and Tobago; Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Barbados; United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); and University of Guyana (UG).
Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, CARICOM, who expressed pleasure at both chairing the Opening Ceremony and participating in yet another meeting with representatives of Member States and Associate Members, collaborating agencies and partners.
Dr. Greene noted the intricate linkages between social and economic policy, particularly in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and of the benefits derived from the inter-sectoral approach to challenges relating to social and economic issues. He cited major achievements in all areas of Human and Social Development over the past year and specifically mentioned the role of the CARICOM Secretariat in preparations for Cricket World Cup 2007 in respect of health and disaster management, the development of a security plan, and the drafting of sunset legislation. Reference was also made to critical mandates in respect of human and social development in the context of the World Summit on Social Development, the Summit of the Americas, the Barbados Programme of Action and the Millennium Development Goals.
Dr. Greene asserted that the Caribbean Community and the Council for Human and Social Development needed to take a proactive role and advocate in international for issues of importance to the Region.
Hon. Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Education, Guyana welcomed Delegates on behalf of the Government and People of Guyana, noting that this was the first meeting of the COHSOD since the recent hurricanes. He noted the packed agenda of the Meeting but expressed the hope that Delegates would take time to experience the beauty of Guyana and its people.
Sen. the Hon. Hazel Manning, Minister of Education, Trinidad and Tobago and Outgoing Chair of the COHSOD, reflected on the engagement of Ministers of Education in the regional, hemispheric and international arenas over the past year. She noted, in particular, the progress, which had been made in respect of a Caribbean Strategy for Education through the two Ministerial Retreats held in Barbados and Guyana in December 2003 and June 2004, respectively.
Minister Manning adverted to several issues of importance: technical education; communications technology; and teacher migration. She cited as challenges capacity- and capability-building and resource location and allocation.
She expressed Trinidad and Tobago's appreciation for the support it had received during its tenure as Chair of the COHSOD and stressed her country's commitment to regional development and its desire to work with sister CARICOM States to address geopolitical realities.
Amb. Lolita Applewhaite, Deputy Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat, welcomed Delegates to the Meeting and conveyed warm greetings from H.E. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General, CARICOM, who was unable to attend the Meeting due to pressing regional commitments.
She noted that the theme of the Meeting – Investing in Human Resources with Special Reference to Education and Training – was critical to the process of regional development and to the Community's flagship activity, the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Amb. Applewhaite listed critical challenges to small CARICOM States, including World Trade Organisation (WTO) challenges to regional commodities; relatively high unemployment; poverty; the incidence of HIV/AIDS, especially among the population 15-35 years old – the Region's most productive sector; and vulnerability to natural disasters.
Other challenges cited by the Deputy Secretary-General included:
Migration of skilled workers, particularly teachers and nurses
The need to enhance awareness of Information and Communications Technology;
Instilling a good work ethic;
Development and implementation of a relevant education programme based on a knowledge-based economy, which would produce workers capable of functioning in the new economy
The responsiveness of the education system to these demands.
Noting that Phase II of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is just 12 months away, she stated that the Region must mobilise resources to ensure meaningful participation in WSIS, and that the Meeting must acknowledge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool for meaningful development of the people of the Region.
The Deputy Secretary-General observed that the percentage of persons pursuing higher education in the Region was still too low, at 10 percent and needs to be elevated. She noted that regional and national accreditation and standardisation bodies were critical to free movement under the CSME.
Signing of CARICOM-UNICEF Memorandum of Understanding
A CARICOM-UNICEF Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, Deputy Secretary-General, on behalf of the Caribbean Community and by Ms. Karin Sham Poo, Deputy Executive Director and Special Envoy for the Caribbean, on behalf of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It was noted that this MOU consolidated a longstanding partnership between the two entities and that UNICEF played a key role in-
Integrated approaches to child protection
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Lead responsibility in a major Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) programme dealing with prevention, with specific reference to youth
Development of youth strategies and youth and development programmes.
Presentations
The Meeting recognised the contributions made to the process of regional integration by Dr. Carol Maison-Bishop, former Programme Manager, Human Resource Development and Coordinator, CARIFESTA 2003, in respect of Human Resource Development and Culture; and by Mr. Holison Gift, in the fields of Accreditation and Language Training, who had demitted office after 25 and nine years' service, respectively.
Challenges Of Globalisation- The Implications For Education In The Region
In view of the fact that education is among the services for which there will be negotiations in the international arena, namely, in the WTO/GATS, the COHSOD recognised that CARICOM Member States needed to ensure that issues important to the Region were addressed in the negotiation process. The COHSOD agreed that in light of the cross-cutting nature of the issues, there should be a Joint Meeting of the COHSOD and the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to convene this meeting.
The COHSOD also mandated the Secretariat to consult with the UWI- established Task Force on Trade in Education Services to develop proposals for the consideration of the proposed Joint COHSOD/COTED Meeting.
The COHSOD also agreed that Member States should hold country consultations on proposals developed by the Task Force by March 2005.
Futures Policy Group
The COHSOD emphasised that the work of the Futures Policy Group on the development of a Human and Social Development Strategy should be supported, given the new challenges for the Region in negotiations for trade in education services. This Group, in collaboration with researchers at regional universities and resource persons, is expected to produce policy papers on topics such as human resource requirements for knowledge-based industries.
The COHSOD agreed on the need for a more effective regional response towards performing competitively in the knowledge-based industry in the global environment. It therefore mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to continue to seek funding for this research and policy round table.
Free Movement of Skilled Nationals
The COHSOD agreed on a number of measures to facilitate the Free Movement of Skilled Persons in the Region, including measures to be adopted by Member States to ensure the validity, authenticity and security of Certificates of Recognition of CARICOM Skilled Qualifications.
The COHSOD also had at its disposal papers on issues relating to Universal Secondary Education, Certification of Secondary Education, alternative pathways in Secondary Education and the rationalisation of approaches to Tertiary Education. It agreed that these matters should be considered at a Retreat convened to focus on the rationalisation of the Region's education system in April 2005 at a venue to be determined. In this context, the COHSOD requested the Secretariat to undertake the necessary preparatory work, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
Developing a Regional Strategy for Disaster Management
The Meeting received status reports on the aftermath of recent hurricanes from The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and UNICEF. It was agreed that the CARICOM Secretariat should coordinate a Working Group to review current regional guidelines for disaster management and to develop a framework for a more effective system for prevention and implementation, including provision for funding, technical assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The COHSOD also agreed that the Working Group should collaborate with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) and the Caribbean Meteorological Council (CMC) whose work touches on some of the issues to be addressed.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
The COHSOD received the draft report from the Third Meeting of Ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which was held in Barbados on 15 October 2004, a major outcome of which was endorsement of a Strategy and Agenda for Action for ICT for Development in the Caribbean.
The COHSOD also reviewed proposals for the establishment of a regional education portal facilitated by the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN), which is an audio-visual/interactive method for linking tertiary level educational institutions in training and research endeavours.
The COHSOD urged that education be given greater priority in the ICT Agenda for Action and agreed to place ICT for Development as a substantive item on the COHSOD agenda.
Violence in Schools
In light of the universal concern over burgeoning violence in schools in the Region and the need to address this aberration, the Meeting received a report of a Preliminary Study on Violence in Schools in the Region which had been commissioned by the United Nations Education, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2003. The Draft Report noted the incidence of violence in schools in the Community and the initiatives taken by some Member States to deal with this disturbing phenomenon.
The COHSOD commended the report and agreed to consider the recommendations proposed to address this issue.
Health and Family Life Education (HFLE)
The COHSOD received an update on the activities undertaken in respect of Health and Family Life Education in the Region and specifically, the status of work undertaken by the HFLE Regional Working Group and Regional Sub-Committee; the development of the HFLE Regional Curriculum Framework; and proposed programmes for education and training in HFLE.
The COHSOD agreed that the HFLE programmes be given high priority in the curriculum and as part of the agendas for behavioural change in health promotion and development.
The New CARIFESTA
The COHSOD noted that the Special Meeting of the COHSOD on Culture, convened in Guyana in June 2004, had considered a Draft Strategic Plan for a New CARIFESTA and, following amendment and adoption, had recommended that a Strategic Framework be developed to phase in a more effective CARIFESTA that places emphasis on culture as an economic virtue, while at the same time promoting the retention of its indigenous forms.
The CARIFESTA Strategic Plan was subsequently approved by the Community Council of Ministers and endorsed by the Conference of Heads of Government of the Community.
It was noted that CARIFESTA IX would be held in 2006.
The COHSOD agreed to support the new format for CARIFESTA.
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
The COHSOD noted that three seats were available for the Caribbean on the Executive Board of UNESCO in 2005. The matter of Caribbean representation at UNESCO Headquarters was also raised and the need to adopt coordinated positions with regard to UNESCO issues was emphasised.
Organisation of American States (OAS)
The COHSOD reflected on the decisions taken at the Third Meeting of Ministers of Education under the framework of the Inter-American Council for Integrated Development (CIDI) which was held in Mexico in August 2003, and in particular, the Caribbean's participation in the three hemispheric projects on Early Childhood Care and Education to Prevent Failure; Teacher Education; and Secondary Education.
The COHSOD also agreed on maximum participation in the Fourth Meeting of Ministers of Education, to be convened in and chaired by Trinidad and Tobago in August 2005.
A Caribbean 'Sesame Street'
The COHSOD considered a proposal for A Caribbean Sesame Street: A Vehicle for Early Childhood Education and Social Development, which had been tabled by Trinidad and Tobago. It noted that the proposal focussed on capacity-building in instructional media development in Trinidad and Tobago and aimed at fostering learning by young children in the mode best understood and enjoyed by the target group.
The COHSOD supported this initiative of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Millennium Development Goals
The COHSOD received a report on the status of activities in the Community relating to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It noted that the Region had already realised the Goals for universal primary education and gender equality. In respect of other MDGs, the COHSOD agreed to await the outcome of the deliberations of the Working Group established to consider issues relating to MDGs before adopting a definitive position in this regard.
Appreciation
THE COHSOD expressed its appreciation to Sen. The Hon. Hazel Manning for her adept and efficient chairmanship, which enabled it to conclude the matters tabled for its consideration in a timely manner.
The COHSOD also expressed its gratitude to the Secretary-General and Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat for the arrangements which had been put in place to facilitate its discussions and which had contributed to the fruitfulness of its deliberations.
Georgetown
Guyana
29 October 2004
