CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Elizabeth Solomon says the Region agrees on a paradigm shift to align its education sector with the global agenda for education transformation.
The ASG made this declaration during her remarks at the 48th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) Education, taking place in Trinidad and Tobago, 24-25 October 2024.
The meeting is being chaired by Sen. the Hon. David Andrew, Minister of Education – Grenada. The Region’s progress in implementing the CARICOM Human Resource Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy, education transformation, Mathematics education and assessment in the Region, a whole-of-education approach to violence against women and girls, and education system strengthening are the main topics on the agenda.
ASG Solomon also underscored that the Region remains committed to creating inclusive and equitable education systems. Referring to the CARICOM Human Resource Strategy 2030, she emphasised that regional collaboration was crucial to achieving the Community’s ambitious education goals for 2030.
Please read her speech below.
48TH COHSOD-EDUCATION
OPENING REMARKS
OFFICER IN CHARGE, DIRECTORATE OF HUMAN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL, ELIZABETH SOLOMON
24 OCTOBER 2024
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Salutations
Good Morning.
Allow me to begin by extending warm greetings on behalf of Dr Carla Barnett, Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Forty-eighth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development – Education. We share a collective purpose of closing the gaps in the education system and of using a transformative approach to ensure that the education system that underpins the future of this Region, can respond to the emerging 21st century needs.
As we convene today, let us revisit the “state of play” on our progress in achieving the mandates set for ourselves at the last COHSOD, which was held under the theme “From Aspiration to Action”. As many of you will recall, that mandate included action on key issues that were impacting the implementation of the Human Resource 2030 strategy. While the mandate may not have been fully achieved, we continue to be proactive towards fulfillment of these imperatives, even as we continue to navigate the difficult terrain left in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past year, we lay claim to some major accomplishments as a result of the support provided by Member States, partners and internal donors. We continue to build strong partnerships which have yielded positive results. In collaboration with The University of the West Indies, Organisation of Easter Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the CARICOM Secretariat launched Cohort 2 of the Learning Recovery and Enhancement Programme, known as ‘Let’s REAP’, for Caribbean schools. Two thousand two hundred and forty-nine (2249) educators from 16 Member States and Associate Members are enrolled in Cohort 2, which commenced March 25, 2024, and was completed in July 2024. 15,000 educators (teachers, principals, and Ministry of Education officials, are targeted for further training.
The CARICOM Secretariat, in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA), designed and submitted the Digitalisation of TVET Delivery project in response to the Call for Proposals Trilateral Technical Cooperation between the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (“Agência Brasileira de Cooperação” – ABC), the European Union (EU) and Germany. The HRD Programme secured €700,000 in technical support from the Trilateral Technical Cooperation. The Digitalisation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, better known as ‘TVET’, Delivery Project is a crucial element of the CARICOM Human Resource Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy, which was approved by CARICOM Member States. To date, we are establishing a regional digital platform that supports the digitalisation of TVET delivery across CARICOM Member States. In August, the project team visited the four pilot countries -Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago- to collect data to inform decisions in the project.
Esteemed Colleagues, the agenda for this Forty-Eight COHSOD-Education is a comprehensive one, covering a wide range of issues. It will require deep thought and systematic analysis and constructive dialogue, and I am optimistic that we will cover considerable ground under the steerage of our Chair, the Honourable Minister of Education of Grenada.
Honourable Ministers and delegates, I look forward to your strategic direction and robust discussion as we move forward, in particular in getting approval of the items placed before this body which will accelerate the implementation of the HRD strategy.
We have noted that these items generate much discussion and enthusiasm from the officials, and I am assured that this will be no different for this meeting. There is consensus that if education is to remain relevant, we must tackle the issues that impede our progress with robust focus.
The Secretariat has an ambitious mandate to implement the 2030 Strategy, but we look to your support as we review to make the necessary adjustments to meet our target of 2030 and beyond. Based on assessments thus far it is clear that we all agree on the need for a paradigm shift and for the Caribbean Community to embrace and keep in step with the global agenda for transformation of our education system.
One of the key drivers will be repositioning the education system to respond to 2030 challenges and as a result, the meeting is being asked to relook our education standard and the issues that impact student learning.
This meeting presents a profound opportunity to collectively shape the future of education in our Region and beyond. Our discussions and decisions over the two days will impact the lives of countless individuals. I am confident that our shared commitment to regional development will contribute to the four policy imperatives of the CARICOM Human Resource Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy: Access, Equity, Relevance, Quality, and pave the way for meaningful change.
While we deliberate on issues in basic education, lifelong learning skills, and the tertiary sector, we remain steadfastly dedicated to realising inclusive and equitable education systems in the Region. Together, let us harness the power of dialogue and action to drive tangible transformation and create opportunities for all.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges that remain with us, but also many opportunities for our education systems. It has placed in sharp focus the need to address the inefficiencies and to build more resilient school systems.
The Secretariat renews its commitment to providing the technical support to help advance this pivotal human development agenda.
In closing, I am confident our deliberations over the next two days will bear fruit and will ensure that our policy mandates are implemented.
Thank you.
