Education

High-quality early childhood education is about much more than teaching children basic literacy and numeracy skills. That statement from Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clark, who was the keynote speaker at the Third Annual Teecha Early Childhood Conference held at the Montserrat National Trust this week. Addressing participants at the conference, Professor Kinkead-Clark explained that early childhood education helps children develop essential social and emotional skills, including cooperation, communication and the ability to express their feelings appropriately. She noted that these skills are becoming increasingly important as children spend less time engaging in face-to-face interaction and outdoor play. The senior lecturer also emphasized the importance of nurturing curiosity, resilience and confidence from an early age, describing children as natural explorers. Professor Kinkead-Clark stressed that experiences during the early years helped shape brain development and laid the foundation for future learning and success and urged educators and caregivers to be intentional in supporting children’s development. Professor Kinkead-Clark is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at The University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica. She also serves as the Manager of the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre and Lead External Examiner for Early Childhood Programmes in Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Government of Montserrat has demonstrated seriousness in providing support to children with special needs. The Ministry of Education’s budget has been supplemented with $300,000 to set up a special Education Unit. Premier and Minister for Finance, the Honourable Reuben T. Meade says there are children here who are suffering because they lack support.

Primary schools island wide have welcomed another timely donation of educational resources, aimed at supporting diverse learning needs among students on Montserrat. Ikesha Irish, who is of Montserratian heritage, said the collection of materials was designed to promote curiosity, literacy, and foundational skills among children. The donation includes numeracy and sensory tools, literacy and phonics materials, interactive learning equipment, and other resources intended to assist students at different learning levels. Principals from the island’s primary schools welcomed the contribution and expressed appreciation for the donation, noting that the materials will enhance the teaching and learning environment and benefit students in their classrooms. Director of Education, Dr Gregory Julius also thanked Irish for the initiative, highlighting the importance of such resources, particularly for students with special educational needs.

Montserrat will be represented at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Conference and Ministerial Forum on Learning in the Digital Age later this month. Education Officer, Curriculum and Examinations and Local CXC Registrar, Althea Allen, will join over 300 education stakeholders from across the Caribbean, including Ministers of Education, in Jamaica from March 16-19. Both events, originally set for October 2025 on Jamaica’s north coast, were disrupted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. CXC’s Director of Operations Dr Nicole Manning, says the conference is designed to deepen regional collaboration on how best to navigate the prevailing digital environment for greater learning outcomes in the Caribbean. In the meantime, Pro-Registrar and Deputy CEO of CXC, Dr. Eduardo Ali, who is spearheading the organizing of the Ministerial Forum, also pointed to CXC’s ongoing work with regional employers to plan for future educational needs and skills for the region under its Skills and Employability Signaling System for CXC Qualifications Development. The CXC will sign a landmark Partnership Engagement Agreement (PEA) with the Consortium of Caribbean employer groups at the Ministerial Forum. The inaugural CXC Regional Education Conference and Ministerial Forum has been endorsed by Senator Dr., the Honourable Dana Morris Dixon, Minister for Education, Skills, Youth And Information, who will be a keynote speaker during the four days of meetings. Among the featured speakers and presenters at the CXC Conference and Ministerial Forum will be Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, the Chairman of CXC and Deputy Chair of Council, Dr Marcia Potter, Dr Wayne Wesley, CXC Registrar, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice Chancellor, University of Guyana, Dr Luz Longsworth, Senior Corporate Director, Sandals Corporate University and former Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor, UWI Global Campus, Ms Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary General- Human and Social Development, CARICOM, and from the Commonwealth of Learning, Professor Peter Scott, President and CEO and members of his team.