Trinidad and Tobago’s Experience Hon. Esther Le Gendre, MP Minister of Education August 14, 2009

1. SIXTH INTER-AMERICAN MEETING OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION “Better opportunities for the youth of the Americas: Rethinking secondary education” The Challenge of Financing the Expansion and Strengthening of Secondary Education at a Time of Economic Crisis – Strategies and Solutions Trinidad and Tobago’s Experience Hon. Esther Le Gendre, MP Minister of Education August 14, 2009

2. ABOUT Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago is situated only 6 miles from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Population: 1.3 M. Area: 5.128 square kilometres.

3. Primary and Secondary Schools • Secondary School Population: 100,374No. of Gov’t and secondary schools: 135No. of Secondary school teachers: 6,687No of primary schools: 484Primary school population: 129,641 • Our goal is to increase tertiary enrolment to 75%. Over the past four years we have increased tertiary enrolment from 15% to 45%. This does not include overseas scholars and those attending private institutions offering tuition. • Fiscal year 2009 budget has given each student graduating with first class honours a scholarship to pursue studies in any country of the world to complete a Doctoral degree.

4. Birth rate has declined to 18,000 per yearBy 2012: 601 state of the art Gov’t ECCE centres will be catering to 30,000 children age 3 and 4 years The cost of building and furnishing a new ECCE centre: US$0.5M The cost of building and furnishing a new primary school: US$5-6.3M The cost of building and furnishing a new secondary school : US$30-35M

5. Our Economy and Levels of Education Financing • MoE expenditure has risen by an average of 11 percent in the 2003 to 2008 period • In that period Government expenditure has averaged 30 percent of GDP, MoE expenditure alone averaging 3 percent • Expenditure on the Secondary Level has averaged 48.2 percent of MOE expenditure for the same period • The Ministry has a large ongoing programme of school construction and upgrade, in addition to ICT provision for all schools

6. Challenges and Strategic Measures in a Quality Education Environment • Changes in National Socio-Economic Environment • Teacher Development for 21st Century teaching and learning • Curriculum Development and Relevance • Decentralization and School Based Management • Parent and Community Involvement

7. Modalities of Development and the Economic Downturn • Maintaining political will / Government financing • Ensuring efficiency and effectiveness • Data as the Driver of Strategic Planning • Monitoring and Evaluation • Multilateral Loan and Grant Financing • Secondary Education Modernization Programme (SEMP) • Seamless Education Project • Other Technical Assistance • UNV Involvement • Project funding

8. Challenges • Rising construction costs due to space requirements aligned with curriculum offerings • Optimum sizing of schools in developed communities • Construction on occupied locations • CVQ implementation and teacher availability

9. Modalities of Development and the Economic Downturn • Involvement of the Private Sector • Partnering and recruitment via VAPA and CVQ • Low and No-Cost Initiatives • System Changes – De-shifting and Conversion • Local School Boards, PTAs and Student Councils • On-Line Teacher Development • Communication, the Media and Other Motivation Builders

10. Relevance • Relevance is a major component of quality secondary education • This was clearly articulated by our youth yesterday • We should be cautioned as we decide what is relevant today for tomorrow’s graduate.

11. Thank You