Radical shakeup being proposed for Caribbean’s educational system

“The way is which education is delivered regionally has to change fundamentally and at all levels,” so said St Kitts and Nevis’s Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minster Shawn Richards when he addressed the media, Wednesday , at the Grenada Radisson Hotel, on the sidelines of the CARICOM 38th Heads of Government Conference. The CARICOM Chairman of the Commission of Human Development, accompanied by Commission member and Organisation of Eastern Carbbean States (OECS) Director, Dr. Didacus Jules, and Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council, Glenroy Cumberbatch, briefed media operatives on the findings of the Commission. According to the findings, a complete transformation of the education system across the Caribbean is urgently needed if youths are to be ready for future employment, especially in the rapidly changing technological world. This was emphasised by the panelists on behalf of the 17-member Commission. According to Richards, the issue is to build regional resilience from economic, social, technological and environmental standpoints. The PM added that regional changes in climate change and Information Technology (ICT), must be taken into consideration, “When we look at the use of ICT, for example and the way in which ICT is impacting the world and the region, it is imperative that we develop our citizens to be able to withstand all the necessary changes…These are the kinds of consideration that we must take into consideration as we develop an ideal Caribbean citizen for 2030.” The use of technology within the education sector and ensuring that it is done so in a positive manner is another concern particularly amongst youths, the PM noted.

The need to achieve the United Nations MDG Number 4, which speaks to the provision of quality, equitable, affordable., lifelong educational opportunities for all, and the goals of SDG Number 8, which speaks to promoting sustained economic growth, was also mentioned by the PM. He revealed that the strategy takes into consideration all aspects of learning from early childhood to those who have graduated from High School. The aim, in this regard, he added, is to increase the number of people leaving High School with more subjects. The PM said research shows that a startling figure of 66% of recent graduates leaving high school, do so with two subjects or less, 12% with 3 to 4 subject passes and 22% with 5 or more, there was much to be done. Future demands, he explained, will require youths to be competent in complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, coordinating people, people management, emotional judgment, negotiating and decision-making, and cognitive flexibility.

(Kaieteurnews.com)