Caribbean teachers are set to benefit from new leadership training, discounted tertiary education and stronger regional advocacy following a landmark agreement signed by the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) during its 2026 Executive Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.
The agreement, described as a major milestone for the region’s education sector, establishes a long-term partnership between the Caribbean Union of Teachers and the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies (CCLCS), creating new opportunities for teachers, union leaders and education professionals across more than 26 Caribbean territories.
The partnership was one of the key outcomes of the CUT Executive Meeting, held from July 13 to 15 in Port of Spain and hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA). During the meeting, regional education leaders reviewed pressing issues affecting schools and teachers while making strategic decisions aimed at strengthening the organisation’s leadership and advocacy.
Another significant development was the election of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union President Fiona Charles as First Vice President of the Caribbean Union of Teachers. CUT said Charles brings extensive experience in trade union leadership and education advocacy to the regional body.
Under the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding, CUT and Cipriani College will jointly develop accredited programmes designed specifically for teachers, union executives, shop stewards and education leaders throughout the Caribbean.
Among the immediate benefits for CUT members is a permanent 25 per cent discount on standard academic programmes offered by Cipriani College.
The agreement also establishes a CUT-Cipriani Leadership Academy, which will serve as a regional hub for training and certifying current and future education labour leaders.
In addition, the partnership will promote collaborative research and evidence-based policy development on issues affecting education systems across the Caribbean.
CUT said the agreement comes at a critical time as education systems continue to adapt to rapid technological change, evolving labour markets and broader structural shifts affecting schools and the teaching profession.
By combining CUT’s regional advocacy network with Cipriani College’s decades of expertise in labour education and co-operative development, the partnership is expected to strengthen the voice of educators in national and regional education policy discussions.
The Caribbean Union of Teachers reaffirmed its commitment to empowering educators, strengthening member unions and promoting collaboration to advance quality education and improve working conditions for teachers throughout the region.
