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Welcome to the official website of the
IV Meetingof Ministers of Education of
the Americas, Scarborough, Tobago
August 10-12, 2005
Minister Hazel Manning
Minister of Education of Trinidad and Tobago |
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On behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago I wish to extend the warmest of Caribbean welcomes to the official website of the Scarborough Ministerial Meeting and express our desire that this IV Meeting of Ministers of Education fulfills, if not surpasses, all expectations.
We are truly pleased that after almost a decade of meetings in the OAS framework in North and South America, we are going to finally be able to host this important dialogue in the Caribbean . Moreover, we look forward to exchanging ideas on ways to better achieve a higher quality education, and in so doing, ensuring a more democratic citizenry, a more inclusive society and a better prepared workforce.
This meeting is especially timely and relevant in that it precedes the upcoming IV Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata , Argentina by just three months. Also, the themes we will focus upon in Tobago in many ways compliment the points our Heads of State and Government will address in their Summit discussions. This offers us, as Ministers, a unique opportunity to explain why educational quality for all must be at the center of the hemispheric agenda. We must also continue to develop concrete collaborative and national strategies for achieving, sustaining and evaluating our efforts. I feel strongly that the whole of our collective actions truly are greater than the sum of their individual parts and look forward to continuing to exchange good practices and programs within these areas.
For us in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, this IV Ministerial in Tobago makes more than sense, it makes five senses. Whether it is seeing our optimistic and hopeful vision of education in the Americas , hearing our uniquely Caribbean perspective, being touched by the warmth and friendship of our people, getting a taste of our culture or smelling the fresh sand and surf in the air -- this IV Ministerial makes sense .
This Website represents a virtual space and forum for all information and updates on the meeting. Here you will find official and informative documents as well as logistical and technical information that you will need to prepare for your arrival. Over the next few weeks I will be updating this letter with new thoughts and announcement as the Meeting approaches so please check back often. I also want you to feel free to contact my staff here or the OEST-OAS staff in Washington with whatever questions or concerns you may have.
I sincerely hope that you find the website to be both useful and user-friendly and look forward to seeing you on August 10 th in the Tobago Hilton.
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