The CARICOM Secretariat’s Education Programme ensures inclusive, equitable, quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for the Region. As part of this responsibility, the Programme has developed a Human Resource Development 2030 Strategy, which is currently being implemented.

· The CARICOM Education Programme, in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), has designed the Framework for the Reopening of Schools in the Caribbean including Schools for Learners with Special Education Needs (SEN), in the face of COVID-19.

· The Framework was developed to ensure continued education delivery, with emphasis placed on safe school operations and infrastructure; communication and coordination, assessment of learning needs and human resource development.

These guidelines outline suggested actions to be considered to ensure health and safety while ensuring the continuation of education. In particular, the guidelines focus on preparations to meet the challenges of the new school year. The guidelines should help countries to: – identify their strengths and gaps in responses – survey the existing structures and processes in places that can be leveraged to fill gaps, and; – prioritise actions for the short and medium term.