CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission Tuesday said it has signed a “landmark” Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) to strengthen collaboration in advancing digital learning, open education, and teacher development across the region.
It said that the MoU establishes a framework for joint action to expand access to quality education through technology, build resilient, flexible education systems, promote lifelong learning, and enhance equity and inclusion.
“Through this partnership, the OECS and COL will jointly pursue initiatives that include developing knowledge infrastructure, creating and sharing Open Educational Resources (OER), supporting digital pedagogy training for educators, and providing technical and advisory support for education transformation,” according to a statement issued by the OECS Commission.
It sad that the partnership aligns with the sub-regional grouping’s vision for the OECS Digital Learning Ecosystem (ODLE), positioning it as a regional hub for accessible, high-quality digital learning content.
It also strengthens the region’s advocacy voice for Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-enabled education policies, both regionally and internationally, reinforcing the OECS’s commitment to the global education agenda, including achieving SDG 4 aimed at quality education, and advancing the achievement of OECS Strategic Priority 5, which is to Advance Equity and Inclusion, reducing disparities in health, education and social outcomes.
“Through the establishment of this framework for cooperation, the implementation of Microcredentialing in the OECS will be supported. The pilot of Microcredentialing through the OECS MyPD platform for teacher professional development is anticipated to be one of the first activities supported by this partnership,” said Mrs Sisera Simon, Head, Human and Social Division, at the OECS Commission.
She said that this groundbreaking initiative will empower participants to earn skill-specific credentials, spotlighting their expertise and dedication to continuous professional growth.
“The goal of integrating Microcredentialing is not simply to enhance professional development, but to reimagine it, creating more personalised, meaningful learning journeys for every educator in the OECS,” she added.
OECS Director General, Dr Didacus Jules, said this partnership represents a significant step forward in the mission to create an inclusive, future-ready education system in the OECS.
“By joining forces with the Commonwealth of Learning, we are equipping our region with the tools, policies, and support needed to make digital learning a reality for every learner,” he added.
President and chief executive officer of the Commonwealth of Learning, Professor Peter Scottechoed, said his institution is delighted to partner with the OECS Commission in advancing digital learning and inclusive education across the Eastern Caribbean region.
“The OECS continues to demonstrate leadership in reimagining education systems for resilience and relevance in the 21st century. Through this collaboration, we will leverage our collective expertise and resources to accelerate innovation—ensuring that all learners in the OECS, regardless of circumstance, can access and benefit from quality, technology-enabled education opportunities.”
The agreement will provide opportunities for teacher professional development and digital leadership to improve the uptake and effectiveness of digital learning tools, as well as equity-focused initiatives to ensure underserved and vulnerable communities benefit from digital learning opportunities.
It will also allow for joint projects and resource mobilisation to expand financing and support for regional digital transformation in education as well as research and knowledge exchange to keep OECS innovations evidence-based and globally benchmarked.
A Joint Committee, with representatives from both organisations, will oversee the implementation of the MoU, ensuring progress, monitoring outcomes, and fostering sustainability.
The MOU will remain in effect for three years, with the possibility of renewal, the OECS Commission said.
The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla.
