Project INSPIRE to strengthen inclusive education in St. Maarten

GREAT BAY--A new regional education initiative aimed at making classrooms more responsive and inclusive is being launched this week in St. Maarten.

According to a press release from the Education, Consulting, Academic Advising and Mentoring (ECAAM), the organisation is partnering with the SKOS Catholic Education Foundation of St. Maarten on Project INSPIRE, a two-year pilot designed to strengthen support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) while helping teachers develop more effective approaches to inclusive education.

The official launch and teacher training programme will run from September 28 to October 2, 2026, with the formal launch scheduled for September 30 at the SKOS Training Center in Philipsburg.

Project INSPIRE will focus on improving teaching, assessment and student support through regional cooperation, professional development and practical teaching strategies.

The initiative is built around the idea that every student should be able to access the classroom, participate in learning, make progress and feel that they belong.

As part of the programme, educators will take part in school visits and classroom engagement, professional development sessions and training in SEN and inclusive education.

The programme will also cover adapted teaching methods and lesson planning, inclusive classroom management and practical techniques for working with students with different learning needs.

Organisers say the training is intended to help teachers better recognise individual student needs and adjust their classroom practices to create environments where more students can participate and learn effectively.

The official launch ceremony will take place from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on September 30 at the SKOS Training Center in Philipsburg.

People outside St. Maarten will also be able to follow the event online. The launch will be livestreamed by Richie Ferrol Media Services, EmoNews and Dominica News Online.

The organisers say the initiative represents a regional effort to strengthen teacher capacity and promote more inclusive learning environments for students with diverse educational needs.

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