CDB Pushes for Parents at the Heart of Education Reform

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has called for parents to be placed at the centre of the region’s education transformation, warning that weak outcomes are undermining economic growth and social stability.

Addressing the Bank’s second Transforming Education Symposium in Bridgetown, CDB President Daniel Best said education has been the single most powerful driver of global prosperity over the past four decades, and the Caribbean must not miss the opportunity to adapt.

He unveiled a “Big Four Agenda” for parents: to serve as active partners in policy decisions, to protect every child’s right to learn, to prepare children for the demands of the green and digital economies, and to pass on a legacy of opportunity to future generations.

“It has always taken a village to raise a child, and in the Caribbean that means governments, teachers, communities and parents working hand in hand,” Dr. Best stressed.

The symposium, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Educational Transformation, brought together educators, policymakers and regional stakeholders to discuss strategies for building a more innovative and inclusive education system.

Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman, who also addressed the event, highlighted the urgency of preparing students for new types of jobs, warning that many traditional careers are disappearing in the wake of rapid technological change.

Both leaders agreed that education reform is not just about classrooms, but about safeguarding the region’s economic future.