Caribbean Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to School Safety Initiative, Share Concrete Actions

Disaster risk reduction ministers and education stakeholders gathered in Saint Lucia for the Fourth Caribbean Ministerial Forum on School Safety, reaffirming their commitment to the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) and sharing concrete actions to ensure safer learning environments. The Forum brought together signatory countries, education and disaster risk experts, youth delegates, and international partners to accelerate implementation of the Caribbean Regional Roadmap on School Safety and exchange good practices to build resilient school infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

• The Fourth Caribbean Ministerial Forum on School Safety reaffirmed the commitment of signatory countries to the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) and shared concrete actions to ensure safer learning environments.
• Since its launch in 2017, CSSI has supported the development of national school safety policies in over 75% of signatory countries, enhanced risk-informed infrastructure planning, trained thousands of education professionals in emergency preparedness, and expanded youth participation in school safety governance.
• Ministers agreed to formalize the CSSI Coordination Committee, integrate this body into the Safe School Working Group, and establish regular coordination through quarterly virtual meetings.
• Countries committed to annual national reporting using the CSSI Monitoring Tool, with the first round of submissions expected within two months of the Forum.
• The next Ministerial Forum will be held by 2028, with interim virtual meetings to assess progress, and Ministries of Education will explore institutionalizing school safety allocations within national budgets.
• Ministers agreed to update the Regional Roadmap for School Safety ahead of the fifth Ministerial Forum and support continued advocacy through an annual Caribbean School Safety Week and youth-led initiatives.
• The forum emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety and continuity of education in policy, planning, and investment, and promoting cooperation across ministries, national disaster management agencies, and youth networks.
• The Executive Director of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley, echoed the need for continued momentum and progress in implementing CSSI, emphasizing that it contributes significantly to the agency's Comprehensive Disaster Management strategy.
• Saskia Carusi, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) - Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, noted that the Forum marked an important milestone in reaffirming that school safety is not optional, but a fundamental part of inclusive, quality education and resilient development.

Statistics:

• Since its launch in 2017, the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) has supported the development of national school safety policies in over 75% of signatory countries.
• CSSI has enhanced risk-informed infrastructure planning, trained thousands of education professionals in emergency preparedness, and expanded youth participation in school safety governance.
• The Forum brought together 19 signatory countries, education and disaster risk experts, youth delegates, and international partners.
• The next Ministerial Forum is scheduled to take place by 2028, with interim virtual meetings to assess progress.
• Countries committed to annual national reporting using the CSSI Monitoring Tool, with the first round of submissions expected within two months of the Forum.

Sources:

• Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI)
• Saint Lucia Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of Sint Maarten
• Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)