Launching CTR21: Empowering Caribbean Educators Through Collaborative Research and Inquiry

October 28, 2024

The opening conference of the Caribbean Teacher as a Researcher in the 21st Century (CTR21) marked the official start of the three-year research project in select primary schools across Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

The CTR21 team proudly welcomed participants of the coaches training alongside directors from consortium partners Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA), University of Curaçao Dr. Moises Da Costa Gomez (UoC), University of St. Martin (USM), University of Aruba (UA), and educational partners from Aruba. Seven inspiring speakers engaged the audience, emphasizing the critical role of collaborative research within schools, across islands, and throughout the Caribbean. CTR21 project leader Dr. Gregory Richardson kicked off the event, presenting an overview of the project’s aims and its significance for education in the Dutch Caribbean.

Dr. Gerard Baars, Director of the Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek (NRO), shared a congratulatory message via video, underscoring the importance of disseminating research results across the wider community. Representatives of each institution, Berthson Boekhoudt MSc, Dr. Francis de Lanoy, Dr. Mieke de Droog, and Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez (via video), spoke on the value of regional collaboration and the sharing of expertise and practical knowledge to elevate education quality.

Adding to the inspiration, CTR21 program coordinator Melendy Neuman MSc performed a poem titled “Problema den Practica,” reflecting on the role of teachers as critical thinkers in education.

CTR21 course participants were also provided with the book Een onderzoekende houding: werken aan professionele ontwikkeling by Van der Herik and Schuitema, a practical guide to fostering inquiry-based thinking among teachers.

The event concluded with invited speakers, Prof. Dr. Joana Duarte of Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and Dr. Ton Klein from Onderwijs, Onderzoek en Adviesbureau Oberon, emphasizing the importance of an inquiry mindset for educators and evidence-informed teaching practices.

The CTR21 team extends heartfelt gratitude to all collaborators. We are thrilled to begin the four-day train-the-trainer course, setting the stage for a transformative journey in Caribbean education!