PM: Regional educational reform an imperative
Published:Monday | November 13, 2023 | 12:06 AM
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew has challenged the Caribbean to ensure that its educational systems undergo an immense metamorphosis to equip students with the skills, knowledge and adaptability required to excel in a dynamic and everchanging global landscape.
Delivering the feature address at the CXC Ministerial Summit 2023, under the theme, ‘Re-imagining Educational Reform – Towards Transformative Agility’, in Barbados last Thursday, Drew noted that the theme resonates deeply with the pressing needs of the region, where educational reform is not just a necessity, but an imperative.
“Today we embark upon on a journey towards a brighter and more agile future, where education is a cornerstone of our transformation. Together we shall pave the way for a new era of excellence, innovation and boundless possibilities. Let us set our sights high and our aspirations higher as we continue this exciting and impactful journey,” he challenged educators across the region. He charged them to make sure that the education our people receive is one that will transform us to make sure we continue to develop to become the people who wish to become.
Reflecting on the past 50 years of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), Drew pointed out that this has been a remarkable journey of progress and diversification.
“The knowledge and skills imparted through CXC’s remarkable programmes have empowered countless individuals to reach their full potential, contributing to growth and prosperity of our region. We must recognise that education is not just merely about imparting knowledge. It is about instilling the capacity for transformation and agility in our students. It is evident that CXC understood this and 50 years ago embarked upon a journey to transform our region academically and continues to do so remarkably using a standard of education that is admired globally.
“In the Caribbean, our education system must remain responsive to the unique challenges and opportunities we face. We are a diverse and dynamic region and our educational system needs the reform which must reflect our diversity and equip our students with agility to adapt to changing circumstances The world is changing at a pace that we can’t keep up if we don’t try and we must ensure that our educational system provides a solid foundation while fostering a culture of lifelong learning and adaptability.”
Meanwhile, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who spoke before Drew, said the region must recognise that it has entered into a new phase and therefore it is time for introspection and advancement.
“We have to assess our achievements thus far and they are quite commendable, but time now that we must review, restructure, innovate and to move on,” he advised.