The Federation’s presence at UNESCO, was given a boost this week with the participation of the Chief of Education Planning from the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Education in a high-level training programme organised by UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP). Mrs. Carla Diamond attended a week-long intense course entitled ‘Education Leadership Seminar’ organised by UNESCO-IIEP.
In providing insight into the course, Mrs. Diamond commented, “It is a 4-credit course to be completed in 6 weeks, so it is quite intense. Nonetheless, I find it exciting and informative. It is already yielding deeper insights and a much broader lens to matters related to the integrity of policy development. A bonus is that several of my Caribbean counterparts are on the course.”
As the training arm of UNESCO, IIEP’s mission is focused on capacity building in UNESCO Member States, and the production of knowledge in educational planning. Building on its two historical functions of training and research, IIEP has been involved in operational technical cooperation activities since the mid-1990s. This provision of in-country support has continued to expand to act as a catalyst for educational transformation, encouraging and facilitating the dissemination of resources and information to Member States.
The combination of training, research and development activities, technical cooperation and the sharing of resources and knowledge, is not only the identity of the Institute but also what makes it unique among specialised intergovernmental agencies worldwide.
In cooperation with the Secretary General to the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Ms. Dorothy Warner the Federation has been active in developing and strengthening the national education policy framework. Mrs Diamond was intimately involved in leading the UNESCO-inspired ‘Professionalisation of the Teaching Force’ and reinforcing the national accreditation frameworks. UNESCO continues to provide high-level technical expertise in support of the Ministry of Education’s quest to bring its policies, practices, governance and rules in line with international best practices, while adapting the application to the needs of Small Island Developing States, like St. Kitts and Nevis.
Commenting on her experience derived from the UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) week-long course, Mrs. Diamond stated, “A plethora of skills have been interwoven into the fabric of this course yielding a rich tapestry of theoretical knowledge, technical skills and practical experience. I now have a greater awareness of my leadership style and its implications for other personality types. I have polished my negotiation skills and I have a new respect for the value of stakeholder engagement in the planning, design, and implementation of policies.”
Mrs. Diamond added, “This course has bolstered my confidence as a leader, equipping me to diagnose and analyse policies and formulate remedial actions. It is relevant, doable, and empowering. I am grateful for this opportunity and would highly recommend this course for other senior Ministry of Education officials. I wish to thank Ambassador Doyle for bringing this course to my attention and for all his work in advancing the Education Agenda in St. Kitts and Nevis”.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to UNESCO, Dr. David Doyle who was on hand to support Mrs. Diamond, underlined the importance of such IIEP programmes, by stating, “Mrs Diamond has been instrumental in implementing the conceptual approach, with UNESCO experts, in developing and strengthening the education policy framework. The IIEP course in Education Leadership contributes to enhancing her skills, with a distinctly hands-on application model”.
Mr. Martín Benavides, Director of the UNESCO International Institute of Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO) and former Minister of Education of Peru, who has oversight of these programmes stated, “This week, educational leaders from more than 20 countries gather at IIEP-UNESCO to bolster their leadership skills and exchange on how collective action and engagement can help ensure the implementation of educational policies and reforms for equitable and inclusive education for all. We are honoured to include Carla Diamond, Chief of Education Planning of the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Education, as part of this cohort, underscoring our long-term commitment to supporting nations, including small island states, in achieving effective educational planning and management”.
