By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Education ministers and senior policymakers from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have agreed on a comprehensive regional strategy to tackle declining mathematics outcomes and expand vocational skills pathways during the 52nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) – Education.
The two-day ministerial summit, hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) under the theme “Educating for Life, Purpose, and Caribbean Progress,” saw Guyana’s Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, officially assume Chairmanship of the regional education body.
Foundational Numeracy: Mathematics Enhancement Programme
Addressing colleague ministers, Minister Parag emphasized that foundational mathematics is an urgent prerequisite for modern regional development, noting that numeracy deficiencies create immediate hurdles for students transitioning into science, technology, and skilled trades.
- Systemic Intervention: The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), presented a proposed Mathematics Enhancement Programme for Primary and Secondary Schools, advocating for evidence-based teacher training, conceptual instruction, and standardized diagnostics across the Caribbean.
- Guyana’s National Model: Minister Parag highlighted the measurable improvements observed in Guyana’s own national mathematics intervention initiatives, stressing that foundational numeracy underpins long-term competence in financial literacy, technical training, and modern workplace readiness.
“Without strong mathematics skills, our learners face immediate barriers,” Minister of Education Sonia Parag stated. “Our education systems must equip learners with the foundation and confidence required to think critically, adapt to a rapidly changing world, and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Expanding Workplace Pathways: Micro-Credentials and Apprenticeships
To align regional curricula with shifting labor market dynamics, the Council deliberated on two landmark structural frameworks:
- Regional Sub-Framework for Micro-Credentials: Designed to support lifelong learning, up-skilling, and re-skilling by establishing quality-assured, portable mini-qualifications recognized across all CARICOM member states.
- Regional Apprenticeship Framework: Aimed at strengthening ties between academia and industry by expanding workplace-based learning and structured technical apprenticeships.
“A regional framework can help us build greater consistency in apprenticeship provision, while allowing member states to adapt approaches to their own national circumstances,” Parag noted.
Meeting the Regional Demand for TVET and Digital Skills
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett underscored the surging demand for technical, vocational, and digital proficiencies across the Caribbean.
Dr. Barnett affirmed that modernizing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and standardizing regional credentials are vital to enhancing Caribbean economic resilience, workforce competitiveness, and youth employment.
