The UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office is continuing its efforts, in collaboration with the UNESCO subregional office for the Caribbean, to support member countries in the transforming Education Agenda. Dr. Gale Rigobert was hired to conduct consultation in the Overseas Territories.
The lead consultant, Dr. Gale Rigobert, is no stranger to Education Change in the region. She will be visiting the islands during the period April 9th to 13th to conduct the Turks and Caicos leg of this project. While in the Turks and Caicos, she is expected to meet with several groups and stakeholders as well as key Government Officials.
The objectives of the consultation will be to identify country priorities for the transforming Education Agenda and align efforts with regional governance agencies and development partner technical and financial support.
In particular there has been increasing concerns about the extent to which COVID 19 has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities in the education system, thus deepening learning loss and the attendant global learning crisis, with the understanding that the most vulnerable groups experienced the most disproportionate disadvantage. While learning loss and knowledge gaps pre-occupy many, there are other seemingly latent issues that have significant bearing on the learning experiences of students as well.
The above concern motivated a special summit in September 2022 and by extension the transforming education agenda. The Transforming Education Summit in September sought to renew the global commitment to education as the greatest public good. It pursues to mobilise ambition, action, solutions and solidarity to deliver on existing commitments, to leverage a reimagining of education to help recover pandemic-related learning losses and revitalise efforts to achieve SDG 4 between now and 2030.
Hon. Rachel Taylor Minister responsible for Education noted that, ‘we are looking forward to the visit of the consultant. Her visit will allow us to gather valuable data on learning loss in TCI and this will assist in the development of initiatives to close those gaps.
Cherylann Jones Permanent Secretary for the Ministry endorsed the sentiments of the Minister and noted that the meetings will also provide an opportunity to discuss other areas of support for the Education Sector of Turks and Caicos and strengthen the existing relationship.
The Opening Ceremony will be held at the Shore Club on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 9:30am. The consultation aims to give governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions, the private sector, and youth representatives an opportunity to share their opinion of education for the future.
