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Sub-regional Seminar on Curriculum Development for Learning to Live Together

Havana, Cuba, 15 - 18 May 2001

 

Intended as a preparatory meeting for the 46th ICE, the seminar addressed three conference sub-themes, namely i) Education for Citizenship: Learning in School and Society, ii) Social Exclusion and Violence: Education for Social Cohesion, and ii) Shared Values, Cultural Diversity and Education: What to Learn and How?

 

These issues were considered by participants to be of primary concern for Caribbean societies, grappling with the challenges of rapid urbanization and growing violence, the impact of globalization on the economy and culture, increasing inter-country movement of peoples, growing, predominantly youthful, populations, gender tensions, loss of qualified teaching staff through emigration, among other problems. The written reports and materials submitted by participants indicated that most of the countries of the region have developed curricula pertaining to citizenship education and related issues such as human rights. However, effective implementation of such curricula remains the challenge for all countries. There is also much room for greater sharing of experiences and resources among countries.

 

Participants and experts made a number of proposals for strengthening the teaching and learning of the issues in the curriculum, and for promoting them as an integral part of the ethos of the school, education system and wider society. Participants further called for the organization of ongoing regional meetings such as the one held in Havana, so as to build and strengthen inter-country relations, share experiences further, and develop joint projects.