St. George’s Grenada, Thursday May 13th, 2010, MOEPRU – The Grenada Government, which has committed itself to the establishment of a more inclusive schools’ curriculum, is organising a training programme for educators involved in teaching children with special needs. The programme for 20 teachers, including three from Carriacou, is expected to enhance the trainees’ knowledge, skills... 

Minister Stephen Smith. Photo credit: www.foreignminister.gov.au More than  $10 million worth of scholarships and fellowship programs over the next four years and contributions to sports in the region are two major commitments which the Australian Government will undertake in efforts to improve its relationship with the Caribbean. Australian Foreign  Affairs Minister Stephen Smith who spoke to... 

Prime Minister Bruce Golding. KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Prime Minister Bruce Golding Wednesday said his administration understood the financial problems facing teachers but appealed to them to give the new generation of Jamaicans an opportunity of succeeding in today’s world. In a message marking “Teachers’ Day 2010”, Golding said that while the country is confronted with “considerable... 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The majority of Jamaica’s 25,000 teachers stayed away from work Monday, in protest against the government’s non-payment of outstanding retroactive salaries, shutting down the island’s education system. The teachers are owed a total of J$8 billion (US$90 million) and of that amount, J$4 billion (US$45 million) represents outstanding payments for this year. On Sunday... 

Education Minister Andrew Holness. *Photo credit: www.radiojamaica.com KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Ministry of Education says it cannot guarantee the safety of students when teachers go on strike on Monday and Tuesday to protest against the non-payment of retroactive salaries. At a press conference on Saturday, Education Minister Andrew Holness issued the warning, stating that the Jamaica... 

A section of the school. *Sean Douglas photo Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the new San Sauveur Primary School will create a learning environment which will encourage teachers and students to perform to the best of their abilities. Government official opened the doors of a new state-of-the-art primary school in of San Sauveur on today. He says the new setting is most appropriate for taking... 

Mural under construction in the Workman's Primary School Project. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (April 20, 2010) – Two members of the family of the newly launched Barbados Entrepreneurs’ Venture Capital (BEVC) Fund are aiming to harness the creative expression of primary school students and to beautify their community. The Workman’s Primary School project is a beautification programme... 

Education Minister Esther Le Gendre said introduction of same sex schools is not a “wholesale swap” but rather a very careful, measured introduction to be done one class at a time. *Photo credit: news.bn.gs PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Network of NGOs of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women (NGTTAW) says it views with concern the haste with which education authorities are... 

“When we look at the situation we noticed that the students who are engaged in that sought of behaviour have a problem and there are some issues which need to be addressed, " James stated. CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – Education Minister Arsene James says students who participated in sexual activities posted on the internet have a problem and the St. Lucia government is examining the possibility... 

Kamal Wood. BARBADOS (April 4, 2010) – From my first Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) almost four years ago I felt a strong emphasis on youth involvement in every aspect of the conference. Through the years, the conference has seen many ambitious and brilliant young people join in the dialogue to create a better region through Tourism. Some of these young people returned... 

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – A senior official of the St Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat has described the problem of trained teachers migrating from the region as a serious state of affairs. Head of OECS Reform, Marcus Albertine, stressed the point, noting that a study of teachers in the nine-country OECS revealed that the attrition rate is as high as seven... 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it will join the St. Lucia government in launching a Basic Education Enhancement Project next week designed to benefit 1,300 persons. The CDB said that in August last year, the Stephenson King government signed a US$12 million loan agreement with the Bank to assist with enhancing the quality of basic education... 

*Photo credit: www.projects-abroad.org (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     When the Fourth Meeting of the CARICOM Regional Task Force on Teaching and Teacher Education gets underway in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, Its first and main business at hand is to look at how the Community can develop and harmonise standards in Teacher Education across the... 

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Monday, March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD). This day is being observed worldwide under the theme: Equal rights, equal opportunities: progress for all. The Caribbean Community Secretariat will use this opportunity to roll out its programme on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and to introduce to the Media, its recently appointed... 

Holness said that the plan would establish a Commission to regulate and give oversight to the tertiary sector. KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it will put in place measures to assist tertiary level students who may be de-registered for non-payment of fees in September due to a freeze on tertiary subsidies. Education Minister  Andrew Holness told Parliament that the assistance... 

Jamaica’s Childrens’ Advocate, Mary Clarke. *Photo credit: www.jamaica-gleaner.com KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica’s Childrens’ Advocate, Mary Clarke, is calling on the Bruce Golding government to revamp the island’s foster care programme, saying that a recent study had found several flaws in the project. Clarke said the study, carried out by her office last year, found for instance, that... 

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Government has announced a new national service programme aimed at keeping young people out of trouble. Participants in the voluntary programme, which is designed for men and women aged between 24 and 30, will complete 16 hours of service a month for two years, with possible incentives such as better loan rates and reduced Transport Control Department fees. Premier Dr.... 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Haiti has used the inaugural Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit on Youth Development to make an impassioned plea for assistance in rebuilding its shattered education system following the destruction caused by the powerful earthquake on January 12. Haiti’s CARICOM Youth Ambassador (CYA), Leticia Cadet, said rebuilding the education system is a matter of priority for... 

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The inaugural Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit on Youth Development opened here on Friday night with a very poor attendance by regional leaders. The two-day summit is being attended by host President Ronald Venetiaan, CARICOM Chairman and Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo. Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassador Corps,...