On 27 September 2025, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell addressed the United Nations under the theme of “Better Together.” His speech focused on the value of education, accurately describing it as a “lifeline” and as a “bridge between limitation and possibility.”
It was a unique and engaging address that encompassed new framings and continued the forward position education has held amongst Grenadian leaders throughout history. There have been significant changes to education policy in Grenada during the current NDC administration. This has included the removal of administration fees, technological upgrades for schools and support for institutions severely affected by Hurricane Beryl. The Prime Minister was correct to place such great importance on education in his speech. Education does not merely increase opportunities; it has the potential to empower individuals and communities in numerous ways.
Education allows for communities to be aware of the political, economic and scientific processes that impact them. It gives individuals the ability to express themselves, further themselves and better themselves. Participation is central to a holistic education. As Brazilian theorist Paolo Freire argued, dialogue and active participation in the learning process is “an existential necessity”. It is not sufficient for this process to occur in classrooms. It must be woven into the fabric of everyday life in Grenada and around the world.
Number 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals highlights the aim of establishing worldwide inclusive and equitable education. It is noteworthy that there is also a justified focus on the education of women and girls. Women’s education should be viewed as an utmost priority, owing to its potential to transform women from the background to the forefront and leadership of communities. Education, as the Prime Minister articulated, is not just essential for social mobility, but also in creating active citizens and fostering ties between peoples. Leaders throughout Grenadian history have understood that education is not simply a matter of school or book learning, but a lifelong, all-encompassing process. In the words of Maurice Bishop, “Grenada’s greatest resources are the Grenadian people.”
Fundamental to Grenada’s national and cultural pride, its preservation and progress, is education. From T A Marryshow to Dickon Mitchell, politicians have understood the centrality of education to national development. The key, however, is to turn words into action.
The test for Grenada in the present is to ensure lifelong learning becomes a feature of daily life, from expanding access to formal training and skills development, to promoting exchange of cultural, spiritual and practical ideas. There has been much progress in Grenada with regard to education policy, attainment and attendance indicators. Illiteracy has been all but eradicated, and the vast majority of students progress throughout formal schooling. However, there are still large attainment gaps, financial barriers and a lack of adult education opportunities. It is not enough for the government to abolish administration and tuition fees. The very core of educational inequality in Grenada must be addressed.
It is essential to acknowledge the important work of several NGOs in Grenada, such as NEWLO and GRENED, which have sought to provide resources and opportunities to disadvantaged individuals. Founded in 1996, GRENED’s work has aimed to help address issues facing those in rural Grenada. GRENED has upheld the belief that education is a human right and that youths deserve equal opportunities. Through scholarships, mentorship programmes and other schemes, GRENED has identified individuals in need of support and continually championed talented, admirable young people throughout their educational journey. Indeed, Dickon Mitchell himself would have been a typical target student for GRENED. Despite the excellent work of GRENED and similar organisations, we must ask ourselves: Why is there a need for such organisations in the first instance? It should be a collective goal to work to ensure education in Grenada is truly accessible and empowering for all.
There has been much progress throughout recent history in improving the state of education in Grenada, but there is still a long way to go. Commendable government policies, such as the removal of fees, are a stepping stone, not an ending point, for ensuring the universality of access to education. Furthermore, more work is required to improve classroom experiences and increase academic opportunities, particularly at the higher education level. A transformative social policy approach is required, which must include formal, informal, community and individual methods. For education to truly liberate societies, it must become omnipresent.
GRENED
Bibliography:
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I must agree wholeheartedly that lifelong learning is key to a holistic approach to an educated society . Organisations in the UK for example such as the Workers Education Association, (WEA) laid the foundation for well established learning opportunities that support skill development, economic growth and fulfilling experiences at every stage in life. Many adult learners with poor literacy resulting from low attainment in childhood, often associated with poverty, lack the confidence as parents to support their children’s learning, but also to challenge injustices therefore remaining marginalised in society when they are equal citizens and human beings with the right to be afforded equal respect, equal dignity and equal wealth.
“The magic and miracle of education”
What a profound statement… Thank you Captain Obvious.