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Issued by the Association of Chief Education Officers of the Caribbean
Caribbean Chief Education Officers meet in Barbados
Summary of Conclusions
A meeting of the Association of Caribbean Chief Education Officers (ACCEO) was convened on 18-20 October 2001 at the Casuarina Beach Club in Barbados.
The ACCEO is extremely grateful for the kind support of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in facilitating this meeting. The meeting brought together Chief Education Officers and Deputy Chief Education Officers from nine countries, and provided the opportunity to discuss a multifarious set of issues and initiatives germane to the development of education in the region. These included the University of the West Indies Distance Education Programme, UNESCO regional initiatives, establishing national and regional distance education associations, technology training for teachers and various issues relating to Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). Several recommendations were tabled for consideration by Ministries of Education and other agencies including the Commonwealth of Learning.
Over the years, COL has provided significant and invaluable assistance to the region particularly in implementing programmes in open and distance learning. Further, the partnership that exists between the Association and The Commonwealth of Learning continues to be a catalyst in the Region's determination to improve standards. The ACCEO is grateful to COL for its continuing support.
High on the list of issues discussed was the need to devise relevant numeracy and literacy programmes to reverse the present situation of student-underperformance in Mathematics, Science and English Language. Throughout the region, student performance in those areas, as measured by national and regional examinations, falls far below expectations. In this regard, the ACCEO strongly recommends that Governments, through their Ministries of Education support, as a matter of urgency, the development and strengthening of national programmes in numeracy and literacy, at all levels. Such programmes must include provisions for the training of teachers in the pedagogy of the said subjects. Consideration should also be given to revising the entry requirements for teachers' colleges with a view to ensuring that better-equipped trainees are available.
The Association also noted that, in many countries, Ministries were being bombarded with requests for accreditation from various training providers. In this regard, countries are asked to proceed quickly, but carefully and meticulously, in the establishment of national and regional accreditation mechanisms. Special attention should be given to local and overseas-based institutions and programmes to assure quality.
The ACCEO has requested that consideration be given by COL, in the short to medium term, to supporting initiatives relating to teacher training, attachment programmes and materials development in the distance mode.
The Association of Chief Education Officers, once again, wishes to record its gratitude to the Commonwealth of Learning for its tremendous contribution over the years. The meeting reiterated the need for countries to continue to provide support to COL financially and otherwise. Our partnership is indispensable.
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