SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO congratulates Marvio Cooks and Marcus Nicolaas on completing the Deep-Dive Programme: Inclusive Education and Digital Transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The 75-hour online course was hosted by UNESCO and the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP UNESCO).
The program trained public officials across the region on how to make education more accessible and how to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly in schools. Participants studied key topics such as basic human rights in education, AI benefits and risks, and ways to support vulnerable students.
For his final project, Mr. Cooks scored 19 out of 20. His proposal focused on Sint Maarten’s educational data system, showing how missing or scattered information makes it hard for the government to spot struggling students and measure progress.
To fix this, he recommended creating a clear policy to help students re-enter the school system and updating the ministry's data tools to track student needs. He also pushed for a "policy-first" approach to AI, ensuring strong privacy rules and human oversight before introducing new technology—especially to help young mothers stay in school.
The IIEP UNESCO tutoring team praised the proposal for its institutional relevance and potential to serve as a valuable foundation for future educational planning in Sint Maarten.
Joining him in completing the course, Marcus Nicolaas focused his final work extensively on the impact of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. His research highlighted the critical importance of identifying and accessing credible sources of information within small island societies like Sint Maarten.
Thanks to their outstanding work, both Marvio Cooks and Marcus Nicolaas were awarded scholarships for the next UNESCO course. This upcoming training will focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), covering job training programs, workforce planning, and preparing students for modern digital and green jobs.
Marcellia Henry, SG-UNESCO applauds both Mr. Cooks and Mr. Nicolaas for their hard work and dedication to improving local education.
