as Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Planning and Development, Dr. Roderick Rudder (left) in discussion with Minister of Education, Ronald Jones. (FP)

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Planning and Development, Dr. Roderick Rudder (left) in discussion with Minister of Education, Ronald Jones. (FP)

CARICOM’s Regional Education and Human Resource Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy has its impetus in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This was underscored on Thursday as Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Planning and Development, Dr. Roderick Rudder, addressed Barbados’ leg of consultations on the draft document, at the Caribbean Examinations Council’s headquarters.

“Human Resource Development happens to be one of the major pillars on which our economies have been built, and we continue to see significant investments by our regional governments in the area of education and particularly the development of our human resources with an emphasis on lifelong learning,” he said, giving the rationale for the national consultation.

Pointing out that in September 2015, the United Nations approved and declared 17 global SDGs and 169 associated targets, Dr. Rudder stressed: “Of the stated goals, SDG #4 specifically applies to Education. That particular goal, which states ‘to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’, provides the background and the template for us to engage in discussion related to the development of our human resources over the next 15 years.”

The education official further noted that prior to this declaration, the essential elements of a new education framework for action were agreed upon at the World Education Forum in the Republic of Korea in May 2015.

“The resulting declaration represented the firm commitment of countries and the global community to a single education agenda: Education 2030 – one that is holistic, ambitious, inclusive and aspirational,” he emphasised.

According to Dr. Rudder, the Education 2030 Framework for Action under the theme: Towards Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Lifelong Learning For All was then adopted on November 4, 2015, at the 30th session of the UNESCO’s General Conference, Paris France.

The consultation in Barbados follows others in Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Organisations of the Eastern Caribbean States.

At the conclusion of all the meetings within CARICOM Member States, the recommendations will be included in the final draft of the Strategy and presented at the Conference of Heads of Government at its Intersessional Meeting in February 2017.

joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

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