Brief Summary
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada addresses the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing education as the key to overcoming global challenges and paradoxes. He advocates for broader access to education, including technical and digital skills, and highlights Grenada's efforts to reform its education system. Mitchell calls for global partnerships to support education, especially in conflict zones, and stresses the importance of ethical education in the digital age. His address underscores education as a fundamental right and a crucial investment in peace and global prosperity.
- Education is a powerful equalizer, fostering resilience, innovation, and peace.
- Grenada has implemented reforms to strengthen its education system and expand opportunities for all students.
- Global partnerships are essential for sharing ideas and resources to build better education systems.
- Protecting education in conflict zones is crucial for peace-building.
- Ethical education is necessary to navigate the challenges of the digital age.
Introduction
The session begins with the President of the Assembly requesting protocol to invite Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada to address the assembly. Prime Minister Mitchell is introduced with his extensive list of ministerial roles within the Grenadian government, setting the stage for his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Opening Remarks and Acknowledgements
Prime Minister Mitchell starts by congratulating the President on her election to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. He expresses Grenada's commitment to working with her on initiatives promoting peace, sustainable development, and reforms within the United Nations. Mitchell acknowledges the paradox of the current era, marked by division and conflict alongside unprecedented access to innovation and opportunity.
The Power of Education
Mitchell identifies education as the binding force capable of resolving global contradictions, turning innovation into inclusion and conflict into cooperation. He asserts that education is the greatest equalizer, transforming circumstances into possibilities and enabling individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to become leaders and innovators. Education is presented not merely as a path to employment, but as a broad road to resilience and peace, saving people from both economic poverty and the poverty of diminished potential.
Personal Testimony and the Changing Definition of Education
The Prime Minister shares his personal journey, highlighting how education bridged his limitations and brought him from a small village in Grenada to the UN Assembly. He emphasizes that his story is a common one in the Caribbean, marked by sacrifice and determination. Mitchell notes that the definition of education is evolving beyond traditional university settings to include technical training, vocational education, and digital skills, where certifications in coding or renewable energy can be as valuable as traditional degrees.
Education Reforms in Grenada and the Caribbean
Mitchell outlines Grenada's transformative reforms to strengthen its education system, including universal secondary education and raising the mandatory school age to 18. The reforms include modernizing the curriculum with coding and technology clubs, prioritizing student well-being through counselors and support services, and expanding special education. School fees have been eliminated at pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels, with free tuition now available at technical and vocational institutions. The Caribbean community is investing in skills for the new economy, such as digital literacy, renewable energy, and advanced technologies, including AI-related skills.
Education as a Lifeline and the Need for Partnerships
Education is described as a lifeline that builds resilience against climate change and economic volatility, equipping individuals with digital tools to turn necessity into opportunity. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of partnerships for sharing ideas and resources, building better schools and global citizens. He calls on donor countries, multilateral institutions, and the private sector to co-create and learn from each other, viewing education not as charity but as collaboration and investment in the future.
Protecting Education in Times of Conflict
Mitchell addresses the shadows of conflict and instability that affect children disproportionately, emphasizing that education becomes the first casualty of war. He argues that protecting education in conflict zones must be a pillar of peace-building, safeguarding classrooms and teachers as essential as hospitals. He urges all parties in conflicts, regardless of their grievances, to prioritize the education of all children and recognize dialogue as a form of courage that preserves learning and hope.
International Solidarity and Partnerships
The Prime Minister highlights the importance of international solidarity in education, acknowledging the contributions of various countries that have supported Grenada's education system. He expresses concern over restrictive measures that weaken international collaboration and calls for greater engagement with countries like Cuba in the economic and social life of the hemisphere. Mitchell reaffirms the Caribbean region as a zone of peace, emphasizing that peace is the first investment in people.
Global Call to Action and the Importance of Ethical Education
Mitchell presents a global call to action, citing statistics that demonstrate the transformative impact of education on individuals and nations. He stresses that technology and education without ethics are insufficient, advocating for critical thinking, ethical behavior, and responsible citizenship in digital spaces. Education must prepare individuals not only for jobs but also as stewards of truth and guardians of humanity.
Vision for the Future and Conclusion
Mitchell envisions a world where all children, regardless of their circumstances or location, have equal access to knowledge and opportunities. He concludes by emphasizing that education is a promise to keep the door to opportunity open for all. He urges the assembly to protect classrooms, value teachers, and treat education as a right for all, safeguarding peace and democratizing hope. The Prime Minister expresses his belief that resilience involves not just surviving but building a world where education ensures everyone thrives.
