GUYANA is among several countries of the Americas that will be represented at a meeting of the Ministers of Education of the Americas, being coordinated by the Organisation of American States (OAS) and slated to be held tomorrow and Friday in Paramaribo, Suriname.
A delegation headed by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand is expected to represent Guyana, but it is not known what issues the Guyana team hopes to raise at that meeting because, yesterday, efforts to secure an interview with the delegation failed.
Among the important aspects of the meeting are: the review of works undertaken by the Inter-American Committee on Education (CIE) since 2009; laying the foundations for the CIE Work Plan for the period 2012-2014; and electing new CIE authorities.
The general focus is expected to be on the teachers that today’s students need; on schools as learning communities; and on the role of the government in promoting teachers’ quality through public policy. Additionally, the ministers are expected to analyze the main obstacles to effective teaching, which may be addressed through public policy; and to examine successful experiences through which educational systems have strengthened teaching practice.
The meeting will also be addressing the current status of the teaching profession in the region, and proposing policies and strategies that strengthen the role of professional educators.
In a press release issued by the OAS, it was pointed out that this Seventh Meeting of the Ministers of Education will be inaugurated on Thursday, March 1st by Surinamese head of state, President Desi Bouterse; OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza; and Suriname’s Education and Community Development Minister, Raymond Sapoen.
The adoption of the “Declaration of Paramaribo: Transforming the role of teachers to meet the challenges of the XXI century”, and the final text of what had been agreed upon during the meeting are among the final activities of the two-day session. OAS Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin is also expected to attend on the final day, the release stated.
Source: https://guyanachronicle.com/2012/02/29/minister-manickchand-for-oas-meeting-in-suriname