The OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme (ELP) hosted a regional conference for Education Officers (EOs) to foster a collaborative approach to strengthening the teaching of reading in six OECS Member States (Antigua and Barbuda, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines).
The conference which was held at the Harbour Club in Saint Lucia from January 21st to January 22nd focused on the overall approach and execution of the ELP within the OECS Member States and the activities which have supported this approach.
According to Head of the Education Development Management Unit of the OECS Commission, Sisera Simon:
“Changes in education require committed leadership, expertise and energy, and the Education officers are at the epicentre of the education sector and can fundamentally advocate for and facilitate change. We are keen to assist the Education Officers to develop a strategy to support reading enhancement, as early grade reading continues to have significant impact on the reading success of students across the OECS. We have built significant momentum in reading instruction within the OECS, through the ELP, and it is imperative to continue this work.”
To date, the ELP has recorded some tangible outputs of the programme where 350 OECS Primary schools received Two Million United States Dollars in teaching and learning materials, over 30,000 students have directly benefited from improved reading instruction and learning materials. Additionally, 2025 teachers have benefited from the in-service training of teaching of reading and individualized coaching and instruction practices. The ELP programme must continue to provide this level of benefit in the future to improve the reading statistics for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students within the OECS Member States towards the overall objective of ensuring that Every Learner Succeeds.
About OECS/USAID ELP:
The OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme is a Programme within the Education Development Management Unit of the OECS Commission and was established in March 2015 to improve the reading skills of children in the early primary grades with the goal of providing a foundation for improved learning outcomes and enhanced opportunities for students in the six (6) independent Member States of the OECS (Antigua and Barbuda, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). The OECS/USAID ELP will run through to September 2020 developing and implementing several initiatives that continue the advancement of early grade reading throughout the OECS.
