May 20th, 2025, Castries, Saint Lucia, Ministers of Education and regional stakeholders gathered here recently 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 in the face of escalating climate and disaster risks.
Convened under the theme “Increased collaboration and action for school safety in the Caribbean”, the Forum brought together 20 CSSI signatory countries along with education and disaster risk experts, youth delegates, and representatives from the private sector, civil society and international partners.
The event was hosted by the Government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of Sint Maarten; the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
Over two days, participants assessed the current state of school safety across the region, discussed the integration of early warning systems into the education sector, and exchanged good practices to build resilient school infrastructure and tackle violence in and around schools. The Forum also featured the presentation of a new CSSI monitoring tool and the outcomes of a regional monitoring exercise conducted in April 2025.
Ministers agreed on a series of concrete outcomes to advance the Caribbean Safe School Initiative. These included the formalization of the CSSI Coordination Committee; the integration of this body into a Safe School Working Group with defined terms of reference; and regular coordination through quarterly virtual meetings. Countries also 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. Focal point meetings will take place twice per year, and Ministries of Education will explore institutionalizing school safety allocations within national budgets. Finally, Ministers agreed to update the Regional Roadmap for School Safety ahead of the fifth Ministerial Forum and to support continued advocacy through an annual Caribbean School Safety Week and youth-led initiatives.
These outcomes will directly inform the upcoming Safe Schools Ministerial Round Table at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, where Caribbean leadership and lessons will be showcased on the global stage.
As part of the programme, youth delegates presented a series of recommendations from the parallel Youth Forum, calling for greater inclusion in risk governance and education planning.
Building on the momentum of the Third Ministerial Forum and the Sint Maarten Declaration, the encounter offered a space for dialogue, learning and decision-making among high-level stakeholders to accelerate implementation of the Caribbean Regional Roadmap on School Safety.
The Forum also reinforced CSSI’s growing impact across the region. Since its launch in 2017, the initiative 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.
Executive Director of CDEMA, Ms. Elizabeth Riley, explained that significant investment has been made over the years to implement and scale the CSSI, adding that it contributes significantly to the agency's Comprehensive Disaster Management strategy. "This 4th Ministerial Forum presents an important opportunity—not just to reflect on our accomplishments, but to deepen our resolve and accelerate progress. We must continue to mobilize political will, financial resources, and community engagement to ensure that every child in the Caribbean has access to a safe, inclusive, and resilient learning environment. As we convene here today, let us recommit to the goals of the CSSI, strengthen our partnerships, and elevate the role of education in building a safer Caribbean," she said.
“The Fourth Ministerial Forum is a milestone in reaffirming that school safety is not optional—it’s a fundamental part of inclusive, quality education and resilient development. The commitments made have had ripple effects across the Caribbean. We have moved from plans to action, and working towards ensuring every child can learn in a safe, prepared, and empowering environment,” said Saskia Carusi, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) - Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.
The Forum also reaffirmed the CSSI as the main regional mechanism to advance school safety, and aligned its outcomes with broader global frameworks including the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Saint Lucia remains committed to building resilience in the education sector, and we are proud to support the Caribbean Safe Schools Initiative,” said Shawn A. Edward, Minister of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training of Saint Lucia. “As we gather for the 4th Ministerial Forum, we reaffirm our dedication to ensuring that our schools are not only centers of learning but also safe spaces where our children can thrive, even in the face of natural hazards and climate challenges. We look forward to strengthening regional collaboration and sharing best practices that will secure the future of education across the Caribbean,” he added.
Similarly, Melissa D. Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of Sint Maarten, emphasized the power of joint action: “By strengthening collaboration between CSSI member countries, we can pool resources, share best practices, conduct joint training exercises, and leverage external funding more effectively. No school, no student, no teacher in our region should face insurmountable risk. Together, through collaboration and decisive action, we will make our schools bastions of safety, resilience, and hope.”
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Keith Goddard
Communications and Public Relations Specialist
CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (CDEMA)
Suite #3, Building #1,
Manor Lodge Complex,
Lodge Hill, St. Michael,
Barbados,
Email:
Tel: (246) 434-4880 Ext
3233 Mobile : (246) 266-1976
Fax: (246) 271-3660