Rationale of the strategy
The primary purpose of the Education Sector Development Plan is to raise levels of achievement for all learners so that they benefit as individuals and contribute to national and regional socio-economic development. The plan aims to create a learning society that places premium value on learning so that the outcome will be learners who are literate, numerate and computer competent; skilled in science and technology; committed to the values of civilized life; and physically fit. The plan also aims to create citizens who exercise greater independence and integrity and demonstrate sound judgement, spiritual strength, national pride and a strong sense of civic responsibility. The plan is the product of a long and involved process of technical work and community and stakeholder participation.
Concept of lifelong learning
The concept of lifelong learning is implicit in the Ministry of Education’s understanding of education. Education is seen as a lifelong process with the learner as the core. At the national level, education is the key to global competitiveness, cultural cohesiveness and democratic governance.
Main challenges
Major priorities include the need to:
- Strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Education to deliver the plan within the framework of the new education act
- Establish school boards empowered to draft school improvement plans
- Increase access and quality of preschool provision as well as partnerships with the community and the private sector
- Increase all learners’ levels of literacy, numeracy and information technology skills
- Improve the quality of primary education
- Increase access to high-quality universal secondary education
- Enhance and expand special education
- Restructure adult education to include continuing education skills training and personal enrichment
- Coordinate national and overseas training
- Develop a network of libraries as tele-information centres
- Develop national policies for youth and sports
Main targets and measures
The plan covers the whole of the education sector from early childhood to tertiary level. It also focuses on technical and vocational education and training, including information technology, adult and continuing education, human resource development, youth and sports. Strategic actions are defined for each of the prioritized areas, including the following:
- Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports: new structure for the Ministry; clarify and implement decentralization activities; increase management capability
- Early childhood education: reform curricula; increase access; expand parent and community partnerships
- Primary education: diagnose and develop literacy and numeracy skills; introduce multimedia technology; provide differentiated teaching resources; create individual classrooms
- Secondary education: develop and implement a policy strategy for technical and vocational education and training in secondary schools; introduce computer-assisted learning; establish student councils in every school
- Special education: adopt a policy statement and legislation; provide alternative assessment means to facilitate the inclusion of students with special needs
- Tertiary education: review and expand programmes; enhance access to course and provision; increase services to students; strengthen management and administration
- Adult and continuing education: restructure the programme to include continuing education; collaborate with public and private sectors; ensure well-trained teachers and trainers
- Human resource development: establish a national training board; accredit institutions and training providers; regulate private training providers; increase private sector involvement
- Library service: enhance the range and quantity of written and electronic resources; establish sufficient management and professional staff; expand outreach services
- Youth and sports service: develop a youth and sports policy; develop accredited programmes
- Technical and vocational education: develop a national technical and vocational education and training policy and organization structure; establish a national system of accreditation; provide guidance counselling in schools
- Teachers and teacher training: provide training for modern teaching and learning methods and the use of information and communication technologies; improve selection and deployment of teachers
- Educational social work: enhance nutrition of students; support the welfare of students and staff
- Assessment and examination: enhance minimum standard tests; improve examination currency and certification
Particular feature of the strategy
The Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports is one of the areas for which key priorities and actions have been defined. The Ministry’s mission is to ensure equity of access, increased opportunities and quality services in the area of education, human resource development, youth and sports for the continuous development of the people of St Lucia.
The action plan foresees the following strategic actions:
- Review and enact new education act and produce schedule
- Implement a new structure for the Ministry to encourage and sustain coherent services
- Develop working procedures to enhance joint working and cross-functional leadership
- Improve administration and management information systems; further refine programme budgeting mechanisms
- Strengthen capacity for partnership, consultation and inter-agency/ministry working groups
- Implement decentralization systems
- Increase resource allocation to the primary sector to increase equity
- Develop performance allocation to the Ministry, its institutions and agents
- Introduce textbook rental scheme
- Review role of National Commission of UNESCO
Relevant documents that the strategy refers to:
- Saint Lucia. 1999. Education Act
Stakeholders involved in the development of the strategy:
Stakeholders responsible for implementation of the strategy:
- Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports
- Government of St. Lucia
- St. Lucia Teachers' Union
- Sir Arthur Lewis Community College
- St. Georges University
- National Youth Council
Further readings and web links:
- The Development and State of the Art of Adult Learning and Education. National Report of Saint Lucia
Issuing Body
Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports
