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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO PM OPENS HEMISPHERIC EDUCATION MEETING,
STRESSING EDUCATION’S KEY ROLE IN HUMAN ADVANCEMENT

TOBAGO-Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning last night inaugurated the Fourth Meeting of Ministers of Education of the Americas, reaffirming education’s vital role in “the advancement of human civilization, for the development of the people, for the development of nations and for the development of the Americas.”

The hemisphere’s education ministers and other top policy makers are meeting in Tobago as part of the Summit of the Americas process, under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). They are reviewing the current state of education in the Americas and the impact of programs already initiated vis-à-vis established goals, and will make key decisions to determine the way forward. The theme of the meeting is “Quality Education for a Democratic and Productive Citizenry.”

Mr. Manning welcomed the participants, including OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, and paid tribute to the OAS’ constant effort to promote education reform in the Americas.

Stressing the important link between education and democracy, and between democracy and economic growth and development, Prime Minister Manning cited Article 16 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter: “Education is the key to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting the development of human potential, and alleviating poverty and fostering greater understanding among our peoples.”

The Prime Minister said Trinidad and Tobago views education “as a right, an inalienable one—the impact of which pervades all aspects of our social and economic life.” He then detailed elements of what he called “the most revolutionary and comprehensive program to modernize our education system” on which his nation has embarked. Achievements he touted include curriculum reform, increased training and education for all education providers, free public transportation to and from secondary schools, an extensive school feeding program, and measures to ensure universal pre-school education by the year 2010.

Meanwhile, the host minister, Trinidad and Tobago’s Education Minister Hazel Manning, underscored the historic significance the conference holds for the hemisphere, but especially for the Caribbean—the first time the ministers of education within the OAS are meeting in a Caribbean country.

She expressed the hope that this meeting will develop “enduring solutions to the ever-evolving challenges facing the Americas.” She also challenged her colleagues from the rest of the hemisphere to “strive to use our collective minds, energies and resources to devise creative and lasting intervention strategies to help everyone to learn in school and continue to learn throughout life.”

Mrs. Manning noted that “lifelong learning encourages democratic practices, supports growth and development and, above all, helps citizens to experience personal success.”

OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, welcomed the deliberations as timely, since “education is at the heart of each of our priorities in the Organization of American States”—democracy, governance, development and security.

“We feel that our success as nations and as a hemisphere greatly depends on our commitment to education,” Insulza continued, admitting that while great strides have been made in enrolling more children in school, there is still a long way to go to fulfill the mission to provide quality education to all children.

He expressed pride in the OAS’ role in promoting international cooperation and dialogue in the field of education, such as promoting policy dialogue. “We have so much to learn from one another,” the Secretary General declared. He said with high quality of education for every child and for every young person, “this hemisphere can realize its potential unleashing all the creativity, innovation, and energy of which its peoples are capable.”

Tobago’s Chief Secretary Orville London also addressed the inauguration session, specially welcoming the dleegates to his part of the twin-island Republic. Two youth representatives, Farley Augustine and Avion Sandy, spoke on the topics of “democracy” and “productivity” from a youth perspective in terms of their relevance to education.

The formal opening followed a joint OAS/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) seminar Wednesday afternoon, in which education ministers, officials and experts explored the subject of “Education for Democratic citizenship in the Americas: An Agenda for Action.”

Debates in Thursday’s sessions revolve around such topics as: From Mexico City to Tobago: Progress on mandates of Summit and ministerial meetings and current hemispheric initiatives; and Providing quality education for a democratic and productive citizenry.

Before closing on Friday, the ministers will focus on “A shared vision for the future of education: the road to the Summit and beyond,” which includes exploring such questions as education’s contribution to the Summit of the Americas priorities of job creation, fighting poverty, and strengthening democratic governance; and strengthening and expanding the inter-American networks.

Reference: E-165/05