The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports officially launched Education Month 2026 on Monday, 2nd March during a Meet the Media Press Conference, setting the tone for a month of activities focused on strengthening the education system and advancing national development through learning.

The press conference featured a panel comprising the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro; Chief Education Officer, Orlandette Crabbe; and President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Dr. Richard Georges. The panel provided an overview of the Ministry’s priorities, the role of key institutions within the education system, and activities planned for Education Month.

In opening remarks, Honourable de Castro reaffirmed the Government’s longstanding position that education remains the foundation upon which the Territory’s future is built. She framed education as central to national development, emphasizing its role in shaping every sector of society.

She stated, “Education is not simply a sector of national development. Education is the foundation of national development. It is the cornerstone upon which every other pillar stands.”

She then went on to highlight the Ministry’s continued focus on infrastructure, resources, and professional development, noting that these priority areas have guided recent investments and remain central to strengthening the education system. “You cannot build a future-focused generation with past-tense investment,” the Minister said. “And so we invested deliberately, strategically, and unapologetically.”

During the question-and-answer segment, Honourable de Castro, Mrs. Crabbe, and Dr. Georges responded to media inquiries on the direction of the education system, workforce readiness, and institutional capacity. Discussion during this segment also highlighted the role of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College within the national education framework, particularly in supporting student advancement and workforce development.

Dr. Georges spoke to the College’s continued growth and evolution, noting strengthened accreditation, expanding academic pathways, and ongoing institutional development that position HLSCC as a key contributor to national development and social mobility.

Following the panel discussion, Chief Education Officer Orlandette Crabbe provided an overview of activities planned for Education Month 2026, outlining how schools across the Territory will participate in student-focused, educator-focused, and community engagement initiatives throughout March.

Activities scheduled for the month include Teach for a Day, Early Childhood Book Parades, Pre-Primary Games, Inter-Primary Sports Events, Commonwealth Day observances, the National Science and Innovation Fair, Rep Your College Friday, student-led open houses across schools, educator professional development sessions, leadership conferences, and parent engagement initiatives.

Education Month 2026 will be observed from 1–31 March under the theme “Strong Foundation for a Future-Focused Generation.” The Ministry has indicated that additional information on specific initiatives highlighted during the press conference will be shared throughout the month on their social media pages.

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