Education Reform Consultations Begin with Call for Global

Minister for Education and Human Resource Planning, Hon. Octavia Alfred, has expressed optimism as Dominica embarks on consultations for education reform.

Speaking at the opening session, Minister Alfred said the initiative is “a deliberate effort to improve the education system.” She clarified that the process is not about fixing something broken but about reviewing, revisiting, and, in some cases, restructuring the system to ensure it meets the country’s evolving needs.

“It’s about changing the content of education so that it responds to the needs of the country,” the Minister stated.

She highlighted significant gains over the past two decades, noting remarkable progress in access to education at all levels.

“From 34% access to early childhood education to 70%; from primary attendance at 58% to 94%; from 17% of students attending secondary school to universal secondary education,” she reported.

Minister Alfred also pointed to growth in tertiary education.

“We have moved from 7% of students accessing college education to universal college education. Our state college, now 23 years old, has grown into a premier tertiary institution. But after 23 years, we must review and enhance what we have so we remain relevant to the needs of the time.”

She added that Dominica has advanced from only a few individuals achieving tertiary qualifications to hundreds earning degrees, supported by government initiatives.

“We have grown to a literacy rate of 94%. Even as we seek improvement, we must never forget how far we’ve come.”

The Minister acknowledged that while education has expanded rapidly, some traditional values have been lost along the way.

“The world has changed, and in some cases, we have become sophisticated in our development processes. But along the way, we have lost some of the simple things that made us a peculiar people. In some cases, we have allowed other cultures to influence us wrongly.”

Minister Alfred stressed the importance of striking a balance between preserving national identity and preparing students for a global stage.

“We must respond to our challenges while remaining who we are, even as we become global citizens. I speak of things like ICT, digital technology, and AI.”

She warned that cultural penetration has, at times, weakened creativity and adaptability.

“We see people who cannot adjust to certain changes. Necessity is no longer the mother of invention because we lack creativity and coping skills. Hence, we hear growing concern about mental health.”

She said this record of progress forms the springboard for the reforms now underway.

The education reform consultations will continue with the goal of ensuring that Dominica’s education system both meets national needs and equips citizens to thrive globally.