Education Transformation: Addressing the Learning and Skills Crisis in the Caribbean

Lilia Burunciuc is the World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean countries. Ms. Burunciuc, a Moldovan national, is responsible for maintaining the partnership with the countries to address their development challenges.

Since joining the World Bank in 1996, she held a range of increasingly challenging positions: Director for Central Asia; Manager in Operations Policy and Country Services; Country Manager for Macedonia; Country Program Coordinator for Southern Africa and Central Asia; and Senior Country Officer for Ukraine and Belarus. 

She has extensive experience on leading policy dialogue with governments on various aspects of development. 

Prior to joining the Bank, Ms. Burunciuc was a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, the country’s central bank. 

She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from George Washington University (USA) and a Master’s level degree in Economics, Management and Planning from the Technical University of Moldova.

Victoria Levin is a Senior Economist in the Education Global Practice and a co-Lead of the Skills Global Solutions Group. 

She focuses on student assessment, socio-emotional skills development, and innovations in adult literacy.

Since joining the World Bank, Ms. Levin has worked in the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice in the Europe and Central Asia region, where she contributed to strengthening labor market policies and addressing challenges related to population aging. She has also worked on the performance of social safety net systems in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Prior to joining the World Bank, Ms. Levin was a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC.

She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University.

Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw is a strategic leader and advocate for education transformation in Barbados. She has been instrumental in integrating technology into education, spearheading the implementation of Coding and Robotics across nursery, primary, secondary, teacher-training, and post-secondary institutions.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw led key initiatives, including the introduction of Coding and Robotics, Civics, and Digital Literacy in primary and secondary schools. She also played a critical role in ensuring a safe return to face-to-face learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, school leaders, teachers’ unions, parents' associations, and international partners such as UNICEF and PAHO.

Her tenure has also emphasized student well-being, with a stronger focus on nutrition and physical activity. This has resulted in the implementation of the Barbados School Nutrition Policy and the revival of the Healthy Youth Through Physical Education (HYPE) initiative.

Currently, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw is leading efforts to transform the education system in Barbados, promoting more equitable and inclusive approaches to learning. A lifelong learner and thought leader in her field, she remains committed to driving innovation to ensure quality education for all.

Professor S. Joel Warrican is a scholar and advocate for literacy education in the Caribbean, with a focus on the region’s unique historical and cultural influences, including the legacy of colonialism, multilingualism, and diversity in classrooms. His work examines how these factors shape literacy development and education in small states.

A strong proponent of transformative education, Professor Warrican promotes action research as a tool for driving change in classrooms. His research interests also extend to comparative education, particularly in relation to language and culture.

He has contributed to regional education policy as a member of the CARICOM Task Force for Teaching and Teacher Education.

Mr. De Souza is responsible for the effective management and coordination of education programs in the hinterland regions of Guyana.

A resident of Mabaruma, Region One, Mr. De Souza began his career in education in 1999 after completing his CSEC Examinations. He started as an Acting Teacher at his alma mater before enrolling at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), where he earned a Trained Teacher Certificate in Secondary Science in 2003. He then returned to Santa Rosa Secondary School as an Assistant Master, later serving as Head of Department and Acting Head Teacher between 2003 and 2015.

In 2017, Mr. De Souza completed the Ministry of Education’s Cadet Officers Program, becoming an Education Officer I. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Administration with Distinction from the University of Guyana, where he was named to the Student’s Honour Roll for Outstanding Academic Performance in 2009/2010.

Beyond education, Mr. De Souza has contributed to youth development and media. From 2017 to 2020, he was a Radio Broadcaster on Radio Mabaruma. He has also served as Guyana’s Regional Youth Caucus Representative for the Commonwealth Youth Programme, a CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Coordinator for the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE), and a Science Lecturer for CPCE’s Distance Education Programme.

Mr. De Souza brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and innovative ideas to his role, supporting the Ministry of Education’s efforts to bridge the gap between hinterland communities and the coast.