SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The 2024 Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) Virtual Pre-Ministerial Forum, will take place from March 12th to March 14th, 2024. Under the theme Caribbean Safe Schools: Increasing Resilience in a Multi-Hazard Environment. This virtual forum aims to bring together Caribbean Ministers of Education, School Safety Focal Points, Youth, and other key stakeholders, from across the Caribbean to discuss vital issues surrounding school safety and education sector resilience.
The forum is hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport of Sint Maarten, who currently holds the chairmanship of the CSSI. The forum kicks off on March 12th, with a meeting of the Ministers of Education of the Caribbean region.
Session lead and chair of the organizing committee, Mrs. Olga Mussington-Service stated that this is a closed session and is an opportunity for Ministers of Education to discuss critical issues to increase education sector resilience, school safety and share school safety priorities, challenges, and opportunities.
This promises to be a crucial platform for decision-makers to share insights, strategies, and best practices for enhancing school safety measures in the face of multiple hazards. Delivering the keynote address during the Ministers of Education session is the Hon Mr. Shawn Edward, Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Education.
There will also be additional remarks by Ms. Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director of CDEMA and Ms. Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator based in Trinidad and Tobago.
Day 2 of the CSSI Virtual Pre-Ministerial comprises of a closed meeting of school safety focal points of CSSI member countries. School Safety Focal points are at the forefront of implementing national level school safety agendas and the CSSI Regional Roadmap.
The afternoon session of Day 2 will feature an engaging Youth Session from 2 to 4 p.m. AST, accessible via CDEMA's YouTube platform. This session will provide a platform for young voices to be heard, offering insights, ideas, and solutions to enhance resilience in the face of various hazards. One of the key features of this Youth Session is its accessibility to a wider audience, ensuring inclusivity and reach across the Caribbean.
Caribbean Young people are encouraged to contribute to the discussion by submitting their thoughts on the topic "How can youth increase resilience in a multi-hazard environment?" through the Flipgrid link provided (https://flip.com/c8e75af1). These submissions will be showcased during the youth session, amplifying the voices and perspectives of the youth in shaping strategies for resilient schools. The CSSI extends an open invitation to all youth across the Caribbean to join this transformative dialogue, share their insights, and play an active role in shaping a resilient future for the region.
Day 3 will feature an open session for stakeholders from 2 to 4 p.m., providing an opportunity for stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to engage in constructive discussions and exchange ideas on educator sector resilience in a multi-hazard environment. The CSSI extends an invitation to educators, civil society, disaster agencies and other stakeholders to be a part of this discussion.
The CSSI is the Caribbean’s contribution to the Worldwide Initiative on Safe Schools (WISS) and is a partnership for advancing safe school implementation at the national level among Caribbean countries. Ministries of Education in the Caribbean lead the implementation supported by international, regional and national partners. The CSSI is guided by the Sint Maarten Declaration and is currently chaired by the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport of Sint Maarten. For further information, contact Mrs. Olga Mussington-Service at olga.mussington@sintmaartengov.org
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