CDB is devising a transformative policy & strategy

Published on October 7, 2025

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is designing a transformative education policy and strategy to unlock the potential of the Caribbean’s predominantly young population, with nearly 60% under age 30.

Speaking at the opening of CDB’s 2025 Regional Transforming Education Symposium and Policy Dialogue in Barbados, CDB President, Mr. Daniel Best, revealed that the Bank’s comprehensive transformation strategy is being devised to address the entire education ecosystem.

“The global record is unequivocal, education accounted for half of global economic growth since 1980 and two-thirds of income gains among the world’s poorest people,” he explained. “Education is the most powerful driver of inclusive growth known to humanity, and the Caribbean must harness this force to transform our economic trajectory.”

Under the Bank’s “Rebirth” vision, Mr. Best explained, CDB is seeking to ensure that every Caribbean child can read, count, think critically, and navigate the digital world with confidence by Grade 3, while simultaneously cultivating future-ready skills for renewable energy, resilient construction, agro-tech, health tech, the creative economy, and the digital frontier, positioning Caribbean youth for emerging economic opportunities.

The CDB President also revealed that the transformation strategy will promote the integration of adaptive and AI-augmented learning technologies to personalise education and lift performance.

The Bank will also emphasise building a Caribbean Digital Education Ecosystem that provides equitable access to devices, connectivity, and shared learning repositories.

The enhanced approach also includes transforming universities into engines of discovery for blue and green economies, empowering teachers with comprehensive training in digital integration and ethics and directly linking education to employment through micro-credentials and competency-based skills development.