St Kitts and Nevis to host three high level regional meetings on social development and education

St Kitts and Nevis will host three significant meetings of Ministers of Education, Human and Social Development from September 10th to 13th, 2024. These meetings are to engage and collaboratively come up with ideas that would enhance regional social protection systems, advance educational strategies, and address critical social issues. 

Sharing the details of the meetings to be held, the authorities have mentioned that the 9th Meeting of the Council of Human and Social Development Ministers will be convened on September 10, 2024, at the St Kitts Marriott Resort. 

The 9th meeting will be Chaired by Isalean Phillip, Minister of Social Development and Gender Affairs and will have the participation from the Ministers or designates from English-speaking OECS member states. 

During the meeting, the discussions will cover the common agendas, including social protection, social empowerment, and the Social Inclusion Protection (SISP) Strategic Action Plan (2023-2030). 

Further, the Inaugural Joint Meeting of the Ministers of Health, Education, and Social Services has been scheduled for September 11, 2024, with an objective to foster collaboration among ministers in the health, education, and social services sectors. 

Following this, on the same day, the 9th Meeting of the Council of Education Ministers will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley. The focus of the discussions during this meeting will be on sharing strategies that would improve the education systems and policies within St Kitts and Nevis. 

The authorities have mentioned that areas for discussion during the meetings will include Social Protection Systems and Strategies, the OECS Regional Child Policy, and Investing in Shock-Responsive and Resilient Social Protection Systems in the Eastern Caribbean.  

It should be noted that the participants will specifically aim to share ideas and accomplishments on social empowerment and secure the support of regional agencies to improve social protection measures within the region.  

The attendees will also review the implementation of the Social Inclusion Protection (SISP) Strategic Action Plan, which runs from 2023 to 2030.  

Moreover, the hosts, Isalean Phillip, Minister of Social Development & Gender Affairs, and Azilla Clarke, Permanent Secretary, will participate and share their views. However, they will also lead several discussions on matters of social protection. These topics are considered to be the combined policies and programmes in a country that help to reduce poverty and vulnerability.