NEW YORK — Antigua and Barbuda emerged as a prominent voice at the Transforming Global Education Summit held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 1st, with a five-member delegation championing the role of small island states in reshaping global education policy.
The delegation was led by Director of Education Clare Browne and included Dr. Jrucilla Samuel, Director of Youth Affairs; Chevaughn Burton, Assistant to the Focal Point for Safe Schools in the Ministry of Education; Janet Simon, CARICOM Youth Ambassador; and Pia Nichols, President of the National Youth Volunteer Corps.
The summit was convened by the PVBLIC Foundation in collaboration with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Learning Economy Foundation.
Browne delivered opening remarks and participated in two panel discussions, using the platform to articulate Antigua and Barbuda's vision for education reform. "Transformation does not begin with scale, it begins with coherence, discipline, and intentional design. In Antigua and Barbuda, digital transformation is not a standalone goal, but an enabler of education reform, workforce readiness, and national resilience," he said.
Browne also pushed back against the tendency of global forums to overlook smaller nations. "Too often, global conversations focus on large-scale systems. But Small Island Developing States like Antigua and Barbuda are not peripheral — we are practical leaders," he added.
Dr. Samuel moderated the Antiguan panel, which addressed the summit's theme: "Redefining Education Systems for the Future: Integrating Mental Health, Nutrition, and Holistic Youth Development as Global Priorities." She described the three younger panellists — Burton, Simon, and Nichols — as representing "the intersection of education, volunteerism, and safety."
Burton spoke to the importance of building disaster resilience directly into school infrastructure and daily learning. "Disaster risk reduction is increasingly being integrated into everyday school experiences, not treated as a one-off lesson. In line with SDG 4, we are equipping students with relevant life skills that prepare them for real-world challenges," he said.
Simon outlined practical strategies for weaving mental health and nutrition into classroom routines without adding to teachers' burdens. "We are not asking teachers to carry more, but to embed health and wellbeing into the natural rhythm of schooling. Nutrition can be taught through practical activities — linking science lessons to healthy food choices, or using school gardens as living classrooms. Mental health can be supported through simple daily practices such as mindfulness breaks, peer support groups, and open classroom discussions that normalize emotional wellbeing," she explained.
Nichols made the case for volunteerism as a strategic tool to address socio-economic disparities in education. "Government services often have a reach limit due to budget or staffing constraints. More volunteers inside and outside schools can help address the non-academic pillars of development, including mental health, nutrition, and social stability," she said.
The summit's overarching theme, "Redefining Education as Global Infrastructure," framed education as a cornerstone of resilience, equity, and sustainable development. Antigua and Barbuda's participation positioned the twin-island nation as a model for how small states can lead with clarity and innovation on the world stage.
The Antigua and Barbuda Permanent Mission to the United Nations coordinated the delegation's visit. First Secretary Claxton Duberry provided lead support, while Second Secretary Dr. Jerri-Anne Jeremy accompanied the delegation throughout the meetings.
