– 17th COHSOD hears
Under the theme ‘Accelerat-ing the Implementation of the Education Agenda’, the 17th Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) opened yesterday at the Caricom Secretariat.

There was consensus that education is necessary for the survival of the region through the development of human resources using a formal education system among the representatives from 12 countries who were present at the opening.

While agreeing that education is not the cure-all for all the problems and socio-economic challenges, the four speakers who addressed the COHSOD opening agreed that there is a strong causal relationship between countering those challenges and providing quality education within the region.

According to a press release from Caricom, the 17th COHSOD has a packed agenda which will focus not only on critical issues in education as raised but a number of related issues which impact the education system including, crime prevention, health and family life, the development of cultural industries, youth development and the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). Hence one of its major focuses is on functional cooperation, the release said.

Dr Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Develop-ment, said the community must now place greater emphasis on increasing access to tertiary education; promoting research and development and establishing cultural industries “to project and protect the creative talents of the Region.”

Greene said that much has been done, notwithstanding the work done so far by CXC in providing quality certification at the secondary and post secondary level.

Guyana’s Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, who gave the welcome address, outlined what he termed as several challenges that have “evolved into a socio-economic crisis confronting the region.” The minister however expressed optimism that the regional education sector could come up with a solution by producing quality leadership for both the public and private where in his opinion, the engine of economic growth and development lies. Baksh also placed emphasis on the need for collaboration by the leaders of the region to achieve the set goals.

Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, Caricom Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the critical role that education must play in strengthening the CSME.

Meanwhile the Hon Bertrand Joseph, Minister of Education, Antigua and Barbuda noted the strong connection between health and education. He pointed to the important role that education should play in creating awareness and hence changes in to healthy lifestyles.