Innovations unit created to bolster education reform

The Ministry of Education has announced the creation of a Strategic Innovations Unit, tasked with developing and implementing crucial policies to support the sector’s transformation agenda. It is to be led by Dr Idamay Denny, the ministry’s director of education reform.

Speaking at a recent media briefing, Dr Denny emphasised the vital role of policies in achieving successful education reform.

“If we are going to do a solid job of implementing education transformation, the topic has to be undergirded by the relevant policies that need to be in place to support education,” she said.

The new strategic innovation director explained that the government established the unit to focus on policy development and partnerships. She highlighted existing policy gaps within the sector, noting that many of the ministry’s initiatives lack necessary support frameworks and formal guidelines are often absent.

The advisor assured that the ministry is committed to establishing comprehensive policies to facilitate the implementation of education transformation initiatives.

“That is what the strategic innovation unit is mandated to do. We have identified the policies we need, and we have started on the development of some of them,” Dr Denny added.

One notable policy advancement under development is a rebate scheme for those offering special education and education for the gifted.

Dr Denny elaborated: “In the Budget speech, the Prime Minister made a reference to the fact that people who offer special education and education for the gifted are going to get a 50 per cent rebate in the case of education for the gifted, and a 75 per cent rebate in the case of education for special needs. We are already working on the policies that are going to be used to determine who qualifies for those rebates.”

In addition to policy development, the ministry is focusing on forming strategic partnerships locally, regionally, and globally.

Dr Denny called for engagement from the corporate sector and highlighted the ministry’s interest in international collaborations.

“We also want to engage in partnership with a number of bodies in the international sphere because there are a number of entities out there who recognise what we’re doing… that we are leading the way in a number of things, and therefore they have approached us to develop partnerships with us,” she said.

One such collaboration is with Columbia University, with plans for more partnerships aimed at advancing various educational programmes.

Dr Denny provided insight into upcoming initiatives: “There is one that we are having discussions with now to help our schools develop their coding and robotics programmes, and that is happening both locally and internationally.”

She gave an assurance that more exciting developments are on the horizon for the island’s education landscape, advising the public to “stay tuned” as “there will be a lot of news coming about what we are going to be doing to advance education transformation”.

Dr Denny’s career in education spans over two decades, beginning with her role as Deputy Chief Education Officer for over nine years. She has held various specialised positions within the ministry, including senior education officer and reading specialist. Dr Denny then moved to the Caribbean Development Bank, progressing from education specialist to portfolio manager. Her influence extends regionally, through her involvement in projects like the Anguilla Community College. She is an advocate for incorporating technology in education to guide youth development.