PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK, 30th April, 2026…A five-member delegation from Antigua and Barbuda will join global leaders at United Nations Headquarters this week for the Transforming Global Education Summit, poised to be a ground breaking initiative for the modernization of education systems in small island states.

The one-day Summit, being held on Friday 1st May, is convened by the PVBLIC Foundation in collaboration with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Learning Economy Foundation. It will bring together heads of state, ministers, multilateral leaders, technologists, educators, private sector innovators, and youth leaders to discuss a range of matters under the theme Redfeining Education as Global Infrastructure.

The Summit is seeking to advance a new model for national education systems, designed to align policy, technology, funding and multilateral cooperation under a single forward-looking framework.

Leading Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation will be Director of Education, Mr. Clare Browne, alongside Director of Youth, Dr. Jrucilla Samuel. They will be joined by three youth representatives – the President of the National Youth Volunteer Corps and former CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Pia Nicholas; current Caricom Youth Ambassador, Janet Simon and Assistant to the Safe Schools Focal Point, Chevaughn Burton.

The participation of both senior officials and youth leaders is testament to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to inclusive education reform and to ensuring that young people play an active role in shaping the future of learning.

Antigua and Barbuda is playing an active role in the summit, with the Permanent Mission to the United Nations coordinating the delegation’s participation and ensuring the country’s voice is heard in the discussions.

“For countries like ours, education is not simply a social service, it is a matter of national resilience and sovereignty,” said Ambassador Walton Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations. “Small Island Developing States understand that our ability to adapt, innovate, and compete globally depends on how we invest in the knowledge and skills of our people,” Ambassador Webson further noted.

Mr. Browne, as Director of Education, will deliver remarks on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda at the opening and will be featured on a panel discussion, Focus on Small Island Developing States. The Caricom Youth Ambassador Janet Simon is also down to speak during another panel discussion on the subject “Scaling the Model: From Youth to National Development.”

Another panel discussion, “Redefining Education Systems for the Future: Integrating Mental Health, Nutrition, and Holistic Youth Development as Global Priorities” will be moderated by Dr. Samuel. The youth members of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation will be featured in this discussion.

The delegation is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with the PVBLIC Foundation and other partner countries of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.