Antigua and Barbuda to host 8th Meeting of the OECS Council of Ministers: Education, April 19-20, 2023
OECS MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 — Antigua and Barbuda will host the Eighth (8th) Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Council of Ministers: Education (COM:Edu) on April 19th and 20th 2023 under the theme “Touching Lives through Data-Driven Development ”.
The two-day annual meeting of the COM:Edu will be opened by the incoming Chair, The Honourable Daryll Matthew, Minister of Education, Antigua and Barbuda. It will also feature remarks from the outgoing Chair, The Honourable Curtis King, Minister of Education, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Ministers for Education in the OECS Member States and key development partners will be in attendance.
The meeting will provide the opportunity for policy makers to:
I. Examine selected key education issues, in keeping with the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS), impacting the people of the OECS to agree to joint mitigation approaches;
II. Agree to strategies and policies related to advancing education initiatives associated with ongoing implementation of the OESS;
III. Secure the support and collaboration of regional agencies and development partners in advancing education in the OECS; and
IV. Share innovative ideas and successful practices that have contributed to educational development at the national and regional levels.
Included on the agenda for the two-day session are:
- Education Report on the status of education, the implementation of the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS) and the OECS Digital Learning System;
- Curriculum and Assessment; and
- Professional Development.
The 8th OECS Council of Ministers of Education Meeting will also feature the youth perspective through a youth-led panel discussion entitled “Youth Speaks: Education”. The segment will provide a platform for youth participants to engage in dialogue on issues in education such as assessment, data- driven development, and education governance.
The Honourable Daryll Matthew, Minister of Education, Antigua and Barbuda in a statement, remarked:
The very existence and growth of this Council is evidence that the Eastern Caribbean States represented by this august body value collaboration. Together, we can revolutionize education; together, we can strategize to achieve galactic technological innovations; together, the goals we articulate and record can become visible realities for the 650,000 citizens of our region. The theme for this meeting, "Touching Lives through Data-Driven Development" encapsulates a powerful vision for the region. It is, undeniably, a lofty ideal, but it is a necessary direction for education in the region.
His Excellency, Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS, emphasized the opportunity before the region to collaboratively revolutionize education in the OECS. He stated:
“The theme: “Touching Lives through Data-Driven Development” for the Eighth (8th) Council of Ministers: Education was intentional, as the Commission seeks to influence decision-making grounded in reliable, real-time, precise data. However, for this transition to be effective, harmonization of data systems has to be a high priority of all Member States.”
JOINING DETAILS
Opening Ceremony
When: Wednesday April 19, 2023
Time: 8.30 a.m.
Viewing details: OECS YouTube
PRESS BRIEFING
When: Thursday April 20 , 2023
Time: 3.00 p.m. (AST)
Where: Sir John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre, Antigua and Barbuda
Virtual: Use this link to join
Password: 150865
JOURNALISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS- PLEASE BE PRESENT BY 2.45 p.m. SHARP
Editor’s Note
The OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS) which sets out the priorities for the period 2012 – 2026 determines the focus of regional education approaches and initiatives and contributes to national education initiatives as well. The imperatives and cross-cutting themes of the OESS seek to respond to major evidence-based needs with a view to improving the overall education systems of the OECS and the ultimate aim of increasing student achievement across the OECS. The strategy was endorsed by The Council of Ministers: Education (COM:Edu) in 2011.
The COM:Edu meeting is typically a two-day face-to-face event that allows for engaging and intense discussions, with participation from Development Partners and other stakeholders.
An in-person and virtual press briefing will be held at the end of the meeting to inform the public of the outcomes and the way forward.