Education minister Octavia Alfred hosts regional colleagues in Dominica for OECS meeting

The Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission is set to organize its tenth Council of Ministers: Education (COM:Edu) gathering, with the event being chaired by Honourable Octavia Alfred, the Minister of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence for Dominica.

The Office of the Prime Minister shared via press release that Alfred will take over as the new Chair of the Council, succeeding Honourable Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth Empowerment, Housing & Human Settlement, Ecclesiastical & Faith-Based Affairs, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Aging, and Disabilities for St Kitts and Nevis, who will pass the leadership role.

It went on to state that Dominica is honored to host this significant assembly, scheduled for September 25-26, 2025. The gathering will convene education ministers and senior officials from across the OECS to discuss strategic initiatives aligned with the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS) 2012–2026. This strategy was crafted to address the particular needs of Small Island Developing States, offering a comprehensive plan for coordinated and impactful educational reforms throughout the member nations.

The COM:Edu session aims to foster meaningful dialogue and exchange of expertise on key priorities such as inclusive education, enhancing learning quality, and comprehensive system reforms, shared the OPM statement. Participants will also collaborate with development partners and regional agencies to strengthen joint efforts on educational projects.

This 2025 meeting aims to act as a vital platform to propel the regional education agenda forward. Rooted in the objectives of the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS) and the overarching goal of sustainable human development within the region, the event will focus on several key objectives as outlined by the OPM:

1. To promote the transformation of educational systems across the OECS by aligning national efforts with OESS priorities—this includes modernizing primary curricula, improving early grade assessments, expanding access to quality early childhood education (ECE), fostering inclusive educational practices, and developing innovative, future-ready skills for all students.

2. To advance the OECS Digital Learning Ecosystem through coordinated initiatives aimed at expanding digital infrastructure, enhancing access to devices and connectivity, integrating high-quality digital content and platforms, and building the digital skills of educators and learners—thereby promoting equity and resilience in teaching and learning.

3. To bolster strategic partnerships with regional and international development agencies, ensuring greater alignment of technical support, funding, and policy dialogue to implement shared educational goals and promote systemic change across the region.

4. To encourage the exchange of best practices and innovative approaches among member states, enabling them to learn from each other’s successes, scale effective strategies, and improve coherence, efficiency, and effectiveness in tackling common educational challenges.

As the host for the 2025 COM:Edu meeting, Honourable Octavia Alfred has extended a warm welcome to her regional colleagues, emphasizing the significance of this event in shaping the future of education throughout the Eastern Caribbean.