The migration of teaches from the Caribbean was among several concerns discussed at the recently ended 15th session of the council of OECS Ministers. The meeting in St. Lucia looked at practical proposals to effectively address the migration of teachers in a way that benefits the region including the tax-payer. In addition a proposed plan by the Commonwealth Ministers of Education is to be reviewed through stakeholder consultations to inform a collective response to teacher migration.

The meeting was able to review the progress of sub-regional programmes and agree on harmonized policies and approaches in education reform. The ministers of Education shared best practices concerns and lessons learnt regarding education policy issues in the OECS and some other CARICOM countries.

The OECS Education Unit (OERU) also submitted a report on sub-regional collaborative activities over the past two years. Among these is the development of a teacher appraisal scheme and guidance and counseling in schools. The meeting looked at governance in teacher education on matters such as changes in the education systems, training before recruitment and recommendations for a harmonized framework for teacher professional development.

Head of the OERU Candia Alleyne adds that the spirit of recommitment by the ministers to education reform was evident throughout the two days of talks. The ministers also agreed on the significance of collaborative approaches to education reform within the social, economic and human resource development framework.

The importance of networking among CARICOM countries in areas such as Tertiary Education was identified as a conduit that would strengthen the knowledge base and the capacity OECS Member States to share expertise that resides in each state college. To this end the Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology was identified as a center of specialization for Information Technology for the region. The institution already offers a wide variety of long-term programmes and short-term custom designed courses in Information and Communications Technology. In addition the meeting endorsed the development of a Caribbean Distance Knowledge Network which seeks to establish an electronic communication link between all the CARICOM states tertiary institutions to allow for distance learning, meetings, conferencing across the region.

The ministers of Education shared concerns on many issues affecting the life of the student including the use of cellular phones, violence and HIV aids. To this end the ministers also agreed that the OERU should identify the required research and recommendations to the member states on issues of discipline, special needs, health, gender and other social issues that have an impact on learning.

The ministers of Education were also exposed to a presentation on the possibility of decreasing the cost to the parents for books by making them available through the internet to schools and students