The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION officials yesterday announced plans to host the ninth Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education in conjunction with Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The highlight of the event for The Bahamas will centre on a memorandum of understanding that will be signed between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) and the General Secretariat of the Organisation of American States (OAS) countries in their scholarship and training programmes.

Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald made the announcement Tuesday during a press conference at the Ministry of Education’s Thompson Boulevard headquarters.

The agreement will provide scholarships for the completion of technical studies, certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees at colleges and universities identified by the OAS and the ministry in OAS member states and permanent observer countries.

He added that the agreement will grant opportunities in 29 academic areas and 27 technical areas that have been identified as priority areas by MOEST.

“Bahamians will have access to the OAS’s consortium of universities that comprises almost 40 universities that will provide partial or full scholarships to Bahamians as well as other incentives,” said the Marathon MP.

He added: “Furthermore, 15 partnership programmes for education and training are being agreed upon, with the vast majority catering to those pursuing master’s degrees.

“There are also 29 professional development courses, most of which are online that Bahamians will have access to at a significantly reduced cost.”

Mr Fitzgerald said MOEST remains committed to professional development, and to that end, has made it mandatory for their teachers to attain a minimum number of credit hours per year.

“As a result of the alliances that we are forging, our teachers will have access to the Inter-American Teacher Education Network.

“We are excited about the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN). The goal of ITEN is to improve the quality of education in the Americas through pedagogical innovation in the classroom,” he added.

The multi-day conference, set to get underway at the Atlantis Resort next Thursday, will bring together officials from 33 OAS countries.

For the first time in the meeting’s history, a trade exhibition will be showcased which will feature innovative educational products from approximately 20 local and international exhibitors who will also display good practices in education.

The theme for the Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education is “An Inter-American Education Agenda: Building Alliances Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”.