Secondary school teachers from a cross-section of schools in Saint Lucia are poised to be better equipped and knowledgeable about the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This is as a result of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat’s hosting of a two-day CSME training workshop from Tuesday, December 6 at the Auberge Seraphine. Approximately thirty (30) teachers will be attending the workshop which is funded under the European Union’s 10th European Development Fund CSME and Economic Integration Programme. The official opening ceremony on Tuesday morning will be addressed by the Permanent Secretaries in both the Ministry of Commerce and Education and other officials from the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
The workshop’s objective is to train teachers of first to third form students in how to stimulate interest in and encourage identification of career and skills development based on an understanding of the opportunities offered by the CSME. Education consultant, Dr. Heather Johnson, has been contracted by the Secretariat to develop and conduct the training session. Coming out of this activity and based on participant feedback, a training module will be finalized for use by teachers in CARICOM Member States. A similar workshop will be held in Guyana early next year with another thirty (30) secondary school teachers. It is hoped that this intervention will equip the next generation of CARICOM nationals to see the CSME as their first option for employment and entrepreneurial activity.
This training exercise is part of a wider public education programme on the CSME as the Secretariat promotes the benefits of a single market and economy among member states. Other activities undertaken include a series of private sector and rural community workshops, travel facilitation public sensitization sessions and tertiary student CSME field missions across participating member states.
