The Balsillie School of International Affairs, alongside Wilfrid Laurier University, was pleased to host the inclusive education forum from June 26-27, 2025 as part of the concluding component of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Program for Educational Advancement and Relevant Learning (PEARL) Commission’s annual meeting. The ability to host more than 40 of the top education officials from the Commission and the OECS member states, along with those with responsibilities for inclusive education in each of the countries, presented a unique and powerful opportunity to take up the global commitment to inclusive education, specifically in the Eastern Caribbean.
The identification of inclusive education as a priority area for the region aligns strongly with SDG4 and other global commitments such as the Salamanca Statement, Cali Commitment, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It also builds strategically on the successes of the PEARL project.
One of the key outcomes of the forum was the opportunity for inclusive education leads from the respective ministries of education in each country to be “at the table” with the key educational leaders. Relatedly, another significant outcome was the opportunity for system leaders from the eastern Caribbean and researchers from Canada to work collaboratively together across borders. The Canadian researchers who participated in the forum, led by Dr. Steve Sider, professor in the Faculty of Education at Laurier and BSIA Fellow, are collaborating with the OECS Commission and members states on multiple research projects, including a SSHRC Partnership Grant application.