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 SIXTH INTER-AMERICAN MEETING OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION “Better opportunities for the youth of the Americas: Rethinking secondary education”

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

Primary and Secondary Schools Secondary School Population: 100,374 No. of Gov’t and secondary schools: 135 No. of Secondary school teachers: 6,687 No of primary schools: 484 Primary 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.

Birth rate has declined to 18,000 per year By 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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Thank You