分类： society

Young voices across the Caribbean are driving a transformative educational agenda, presenting actionable strategies to reshape learning systems region-wide. Their insights, prominently featured during the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 2025 Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education in Barbados, align with UNESCO’s 2026 International Day of Education theme emphasizing youth’s role in co-creating education.

The youth-led proposal centers on three fundamental pillars: technological innovation, mandatory vocational training, and enhanced collaborative ecosystems. Students advocate for a comprehensive digital overhaul in classrooms, leveraging tools like tablets and Google Classroom to promote inclusivity and interactive learning. Naomi Jordan, a visually impaired student and First Vice President of the Barbados National Student Council, emphasized technology’s role in accessibility: ‘Digital tools allow me to engage with lessons interactively, correct mistakes easily, and participate fully alongside my peers.’

Despite acknowledging technology’s benefits, students identified a significant generational divide hindering progress. Many parents and educators lack familiarity with digital learning platforms, resulting in overly restrictive policies. To address this, they propose targeted digital literacy programs for adults to foster safer and more effective technology integration.

Beyond digital transformation, youth representatives stressed the critical need for practical skill development. They called for the compulsory inclusion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in national curricula, arguing that hands-on learning remains severely underrepresented. Rondelle Nedd, Operations Coordinator at Guyana’s Ministry of Legal Affairs, noted: ‘Skills are wealth, yet TVET is not widely mandatory across the Caribbean. Ensuring it is part of the curriculum would provide practical opportunities for student success.’

The symposium also highlighted findings from a 2025 regional consultation revealing that emotional support, open communication, and community engagement form essential foundations for educational achievement. Students emphasized that consistent emotional backing builds confidence and resilience, while non-judgmental dialogue empowers learners. They further advocated for strengthened collaboration between families, schools, and communities through both physical and digital channels.

These recommendations, initially presented under the theme ‘Student and Youth Perspectives: What Helps Us Learn, What Holds Us Back,’ now gain renewed relevance as Caribbean nations seek to implement youth-driven solutions. The CDB initiative aims to incorporate these insights into policy development, creating stronger partnerships among educators, families, and policymakers to revolutionize Caribbean education systems.

The tranquil community of Mahaut in Dominica has been thrust into a state of emergency following a series of catastrophic flash floods that struck on January 23rd, 2026. The sudden deluge, captured in harrowing video footage and photographs, transformed streets into raging torrents, causing significant damage to infrastructure and property while sending residents into a frantic scramble for safety.

Visual evidence from the scene depicts a landscape of devastation, with muddy, chocolate-brown waters overwhelming roadways and encroaching upon homes and businesses. The force of the floodwaters was powerful enough to dislodge vehicles and sweep away unsecured debris, highlighting the sheer intensity of the natural event. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the area, coordinating rescue operations and beginning preliminary assessments of the damage.

Initial reports from local authorities indicate that the flooding was triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall over a short period, which the existing drainage systems could not accommodate. While a comprehensive evaluation of structural impacts is still underway, community leaders have expressed grave concern over the well-being of affected residents and the long-term recovery efforts required.

The incident has reignited critical conversations on climate resilience and infrastructure preparedness in Dominica, a nation increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena. This event serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced disaster mitigation strategies and robust community response protocols to safeguard against future climatic emergencies.

ROSEAU, Dominica – From her roots in a western coastal community where fishing and agriculture defined existence, Vanya David has emerged as a formidable advocate for gender equality and sustainable development. The President of the Dominica National Council of Women draws inspiration from her family heritage—a fisherman father and farming mother—which instilled in her the core philosophy: “What you need to eat is what you grow.”

Leading an organization with decades of impact, David coordinates crisis prevention, community strengthening, and technical training programs in partnership with Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Her dedication recently earned her the prestigious Soul of Rurality award from IICA, recognizing her influence in advancing food security and sustainability across the Americas.

Yet David’s vision is grounded in practical challenges. She highlights rural transportation as a critical barrier, especially for women seeking economic independence. Limited road access complicates market connectivity, increasing costs and reducing profitability. Climate volatility further strains agricultural stability, with rapid shifts between sun, rain, and wind demanding careful crop planning.

Supported by national and international agencies, greenhouse initiatives are gradually improving resilience in suitable regions. David emphasizes that successful farming requires not only planting skills but also astute climate adaptation. Her work also extends to fisheries, training women in safe fishing practices and fish conservation while addressing logistical hurdles in product distribution.

Addressing youth engagement, David notes that land access, startup financing, and modern tools are essential to attract new generations to agriculture. She contrasts nutrient-rich local produce with processed convenience foods dominating urban diets, advocating strongly for local production as a path to better nutrition.

Despite acknowledging the hardships of rural life—infrastructure gaps, climate setbacks, and market barriers—David unwaveringly promotes farming as a source of autonomy, health, and environmental harmony. Her conviction echoes a lifetime of experience: “It is better to grow what you eat, and eat what you grow.”