CARICOM education ministers focus on skills, youth and future of work in Guyana
Photo caption: Guyana's Minister of Education and Chair of the 52nd COHSOD - Education, Hon. Sonia Parag (6th, right); CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett (5th,right) with CARICOM ministers of education, representatives from regional institutions, development partners and stakeholders.
Key Points(5)
- Education ministers from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) began a two-day meeting in Georgetown on Wednesday, with discussions focused on preparing Caribbean citizens for a rapidly changing global environment.
- The 52nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development on Education brings together CARICOM education ministers, representatives of regional institutions, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
- Addressing the opening session, Parag said the meeting’s theme calls for a broader view of education beyond the acquisition of knowledge and preparation for examinations.
- “It challenges us to consider whether our education systems are giving every learner the foundation and confidence required to think critically, challenge the status quo, and ultimately, the ability to adapt to a constantly changing world,” she said.
- Parag also highlighted the importance of expanding the definition of education and skills development to include technical and vocational education, apprenticeships, industry-based training and talent development.
Education ministers from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) began a two-day meeting in Georgetown on Wednesday, with discussions focused on preparing Caribbean citizens for a rapidly changing global environment.
The 52nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development on Education brings together CARICOM education ministers, representatives of regional institutions, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
The meeting, chaired by Guyana’s Minister of Education Sonia Parag, is being held under the theme “Educating for Life, Purpose and Caribbean Progress.”
Ministers are expected to deliberate on several areas, including micro-credentialing, regional assessments, strengthening mathematics programs at the primary and secondary levels, and advancing teachers, teaching and the teaching profession across the Community.
Addressing the opening session, Parag said the meeting’s theme calls for a broader view of education beyond the acquisition of knowledge and preparation for examinations.
“It challenges us to consider whether our education systems are giving every learner the foundation and confidence required to think critically, challenge the status quo, and ultimately, the ability to adapt to a constantly changing world,” she said.
Parag also highlighted the importance of expanding the definition of education and skills development to include technical and vocational education, apprenticeships, industry-based training and talent development.
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett similarly emphasized the importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), particularly in strengthening the connection between education, skills development and employment.
“Ministers would be aware that there is a growing demand for technical, vocational and digital skills in the Region. This presents an opportunity to strengthen the connection between education, skills development and employment,” Barnett said.
She said TVET is equipping Caribbean citizens with practical and critical competencies needed to navigate an economy in which careers, technologies and industries are changing rapidly.
According to Barnett, TVET is also becoming an important investment in the region’s resilience and competitiveness. It can support digital transformation, the transition to a green and climate-resilient economy, and the innovation and productivity needed for sustainable economic growth.
By expanding opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people, TVET can also contribute to social inclusion and create pathways to greater economic participation, she said.
CARICOM has established several regional mechanisms to support skills development, including regional qualifications frameworks and the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), which promote common standards and competency-based certification while facilitating the movement of skilled workers across the region.
Barnett also pointed to the work of the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA) in strengthening collaboration and quality assurance across national training systems.
The Caribbean Examinations Council has also expanded its coverage to include technical and vocational education, while The University of the West Indies has increased its focus on professional certification and industry engagement.
Together, these institutions are helping to build the skilled workforce needed to strengthen the Caribbean’s future competitiveness, Barnett said.
She also noted that Wednesday marked International Youth Day and urged ministers to keep young people at the center of their deliberations.
“Our young people need access to education, decent work, finance, mental health support — all that is necessary for them to be able to live productive lives and grow into those who will steward our Region for generations to come,” she said.
Barnett said she hopes the meeting will advance policies that strengthen education systems while reflecting a shared regional vision that values every learner, encourages partnerships among students, teachers and parents, embraces multiple pathways to success and strengthens regional integration.
The meeting is expected to continue through Thursday.
