CDB to co-host Education Sector Enhancement Project ii

Launch workshop in Barbados

This week the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Barbados, will formally launch the Education Sector Enhancement Project II. The project is expected to upgrade/build 194 classrooms, train 1,280 teachers, and benefit over 18,700 students in the country’s education system.

The project launch will take place from October 3-5, 2012, at CDB’s Conference Centre. There will be an Opening Ceremony in the afternoon of Wednesday, October 3, followed by the two-day Launch Workshop. The Hon. Ronald Jones, Minister of Education & Human Resource Development, Barbados, will deliver the feature address at the Opening Ceremony.

On April 3, 2012, CDB and the Government of Barbados signed a loan agreement for the sum of US$35 million to assist with the achievement of the major objective of improved quality education at the pre-primary, primary and secondary levels.  The project is integral to the achievement of the goals articulated in the Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy, and will assist the Barbados government to better plan for its investments in the education sector.

The Components of the Project are:

Enhanced Learning Environment.

(i)        New Construction of 1 secondary school

(ii)       Rehabilitation/upgrade of 8 primary schools; and

(iii)      Minor civil works at 15 primary schools.

Improved Teacher Effectiveness and School Leadership.

(i)        Development of an appropriate teacher preparation programme;

(ii)       Capacity building for teacher effectiveness; and

(iii)      Implementation of School Teacher Effectiveness Plans.

Improved Planning and Management of the Education Sector.

(i)        Development of a School Location Plan; and

(ii)       Preparation and publication of an annual Education Statistical Digest.

The workshop will be facilitated by CDB personnel.  They will guide members of the Project Management Unit, officers of the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders who will interact with the project on CDB’s processes and procedures necessary for its smooth implementation and execution.