Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says that education is the key to Jamaica’s social and economic prosperity and is a major priority of the Government.
He said the administration “is doing everything” to ensure that the populace has full and complete access to learning.
“Education is associated with better skills, higher productivity, and enhanced human capacity. I am sure we would all agree that the education of our people is one area that should not suffer even as we face difficult times,” he said.
The Minister was addressing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Institute for Lifelong Learning Conference at the Hyatt Ziva Hotel in Rose Hall, St. James, on July 1.
Education ministers, permanent secretaries and senior education experts from 14 Caribbean countries participated in the conference, which focused on enhancing lifelong learning opportunities for youth and adults.
Senator Reid commended UNESCO for leading the global effort to advance education for sustainable development.
This broad movement, he said, is concerned with identifying and advancing education, teaching and learning policies and practices to ensure “social, economic and ecological viability and well-being now and into the future”.
“Education for sustainable development ….offers a renewed vision for educational policy and practice fully in tune with the needs and issues of the 21st century,” Mr. Reid noted.
UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
“With the stand-alone Goal 4 on education and its related targets, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises that education is essential for the success of all sustainable development goals (SDGs),” the Minister said.
“Education is also included in goals on health, growth and employment, sustainable consumption and production, and climate change,” he noted further.
Senator Reid urged the conference delegates, during their deliberations, to reflect on progress and challenges in adult learning and education while facilitating the development of common strategies to address these areas.
Source: Jamaica Information Service