CDB supports initiatives that expand access to quality early childhood and primary education, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, including students with special education needs. Investments focus on creating inclusive learning environments, addressing learning loss, and ensuring foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development. These efforts lay the groundwork for lifelong learning and future employability.

Example: Through initiatives such as the Quality Enhancement in Public Education Project in Haiti, the Bank works to increase educational opportunities for children in poor and vulnerable communities, promoting equitable access and foundational skills development.

Investments in secondary education aim to improve learning outcomes, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while enhancing students’ preparedness for tertiary studies and the labour market. CDB’s work includes strengthening school leadership, advancing differentiated instruction, and improving access for students with SEN.

CDB’s efforts at the post-secondary level focus on equipping students with skills for a dynamic global economy. The Bank collaborates with BMCs and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to integrate innovative approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, into tertiary pedagogy. These measures aim to increase multi-subject proficiency, improve workforce readiness, and strengthen the Region’s human capital.

Improving teacher quality is central to CDB’s education strategy. The Bank supports professional development for teachers and principals, emphasizing pedagogical effectiveness, inclusive practices, and the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. Training programs also target school leadership to foster safe, supportive, and high-performing learning environments.

CDB invests in climate-resilient, inclusive, and technology-enabled education infrastructure across BMCs. Projects include upgrading classrooms, integrating digital learning tools, and providing resources that support differentiated instruction. Additionally, the Bank serves as a Grant Agent of the Global Partnership for Education, facilitating education reform in countries such as Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.

Example: Significant regional initiatives include the 2024 Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education, which brought together over 150 stakeholders to discuss decolonizing education, leveraging AI, and improving inclusive learning. Outcomes from the Symposium, including the Agenda for Action, were formally endorsed by CARICOM’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), reinforcing regional commitment to implementing innovative, equitable, and future-focused education strategies.