The Organization of American States (OAS) General Secretariat has launched a new collaborative partnership with Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, centered on embedding core democratic values, responsible civic engagement, and youth participation into the Caribbean nation’s formal education system. This project officially kicked off this week during the OAS’s first in-country consultation mission, a landmark visit that lays the groundwork for months of joint work ahead.
Daryll Matthew, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Education, Science and Technology, emphasized that his nation has long prioritized building inclusive, empowering learning spaces that equip students with more than just academic knowledge. The goal, Matthew explained, is to nurture the full set of competencies and values that young people need to participate as active, informed citizens in the country’s democratic processes. The two-day consultation, held September 15 and 16, was led by Cecilia Martins, a senior OAS Education Specialist, and brought together a cross-section of key stakeholders to align on project priorities. Curriculum development leaders, national education policymakers, frontline education professionals, current student representatives, and other relevant community stakeholders joined in structured consultations, open dialogues, and collaborative planning activities to shape the initiative’s direction.
The targeted technical assistance being delivered by the OAS is coordinated by the Department of Human Development, Education and Employment (DHDEE), which operates under the OAS Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI). The project falls under the OAS’s broader hemispheric program, “Strengthening Democratic Principles through Education and Policy Dialogue (DEMEP),” a regional effort that currently counts 29 OAS member states as participating partners. DEMEP is built around the core principles outlined in Article 16 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which codifies the widely held belief that quality, inclusive education is an indispensable foundation for strong democratic institutions, sustainable human development, poverty reduction, and greater cross-cultural solidarity across the Americas.
Funded through a grant from the United States, the partnership will see OAS experts support Antigua and Barbuda in multiple key areas. First, the team will back a comprehensive review of existing national education policies, school curricula, and ongoing civic education initiatives. From that review, stakeholders will identify clear priorities for future teacher training programs and the development of targeted educational tools to support civic learning. Beyond Antigua and Barbuda’s national benefits, insights and successful practices generated through this project will be shared across the hemisphere via the Inter-American Committee on Education and the established follow-up mechanisms of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, strengthening regional collective capacity to advance democratic education for all.