Grenada turns private sector commitment into action for early learning
Grenada’s new Private Sector Alliance for Education is bringing business leadership, local philanthropy and catalytic financing behind one national goal: ensuring every child learns to read.
Members of the Grenada’s Private Sector Alliance for Education sign puzzle pieces that together formed the shape of Grenada.
This blog was originally published on the Global Partnership for Education website on June 24, 2026
At the launch of Grenada’s Private Sector Alliance for Education, members signed puzzle pieces that together formed the shape of Grenada—a symbol of shared responsibility for children’s learning.
As the Grenadian proverb says, “One, one coco full basket”: step by step, contribution by contribution, a national movement takes shape.
“Every child in Grenada is born with an enormous potential. However, despite our past national efforts, this potential is not always transformed into reality. Many of our children do not read at age 10. We cannot wait any longer. We must start with the foundations to grow strong and rise as a nation. Foundational learning is the right place to start to promote social justice and social cohesion, consolidate our economic development and strengthen our democracy.”
—Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister, Grenada
Grenada has long believed in the power of education. Over the years, the government has expanded access at all levels, reduced dropout rates and strengthened school infrastructure. Now, the focus is on improving the quality of learning, so that every child, in every community, develops the foundational skills they need to thrive.
A national movement for early learning
In June 2025, at the annual GPE Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) conference, Grenada helped champion a bold goal: every child should be able to read, write and understand a text by age 10.
That pledge, known as the Antigua Commitment, quickly took root in Grenada—with a clear national vision, championed at the highest political level, the Prime Minister, and a growing coalition determined to support this vision.
What began as a regional pledge has become a national rallying point, bringing government, educators, development partners and the private sector behind one urgent priority: helping children learn to read early and well.
The Ministry of Education’s foundational learning initiative, targeting kindergarten through grade 4, is informed by evidence shared through GPE KIX and the KIX LAC Hub, led by SUMMA and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). These partnerships are helping Grenada draw on proven regional and global practice and bring it into classrooms.
“Our foundational learning initiative is based on the best available international evidence. At its core is the quality of teaching and learning. We have built in support mechanisms for teachers, including training, mentorship and coaching, while assessments will help track children’s progress and ensure that no child is left behind.”
—Lorraine St. Louis-Nedd, Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Educational Administration, Grenada
“GPE KIX has exposed us to best practices and a reservoir of research and information. It connected us with partners, such as the Erasmus Foundation and Pratham, which brought additional expertise. We are very grateful for those alliances.”
—Sen. Hon. David Andrew, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture, Grenada
A financing model built to multiply impact
Grenada’s innovation lies in how it brings funding and partnership together around one national priority.
The formula is simple but powerful: Government leads. The private sector joins. GPE doubles the impact. Children benefit.
The model starts with a clear national priority to ensure children learn to read early, backed by a government commitment of US$600,000. Businesses, foundations and civic leaders are then invited contribute financing, expertise and advocacy around a shared goal.
Through the GPE Match, every dollar mobilized from the private sector is matched by GPE, doubling impact.
The result is a new sustainable financing model:
- $600,000 committed by the government of Grenada to anchor the national initiative
- Nearly $500,000 mobilized from private sector partners
- $1 matched for every $1 raised through the GPE Match
- One pooled program supporting Grenada’s foundational learning initiative
- One channel through the Foundation for GPE to receive private contributions, activate the match and direct resources to implementation under GPE KIX.
“The private sector has collaborated with us to raise around $500,000. And we want to raise more because GPE commits to match what we raise up to a limit of $2 million. The tripartite funding is crucial for education delivery across our nation.”
—Sen. Hon. David Andrew, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture, Grenada
Business leaders rally behind a national mission
Financing is only part of the story. Grenada wanted to engage the private sector not as separate donors, but as a coordinated force for early learning.
To achieve this, the Ministry of Education launched the Private Sector Alliance for Education, a platform where business leaders can:
- Bring employer and industry perspectives into government-led education dialogue
- Support practical innovations that improve learning, teaching and system performance
- Mobilize financing, expertise and in-kind support around one national priority.
Private partners are already stepping forward, recognizing that investing in children’s reading is not only good for education, but is also good for Grenada’s future workforce and economy.
“Strong foundational learning drives productivity. It drives innovation and it drives national development. When we invest in our children's ability to read, think and learn at an early stage, we are not just shaping individuals, we are shaping a stronger, more resilient economy.”
—Mervyn Lord, CEO, Ariza Credit Union
“Foundational learning is at the heart of everything we do here in Grenada, including tourism, which affects the fabric of society in every aspect. When you think about the workforce, training, productivity, literacy is at the core of it all. Literacy is the future of Grenada, and it starts with us.“
—Arlene Friday, CEO, Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association
Grenada’s experience points to a way of financing education that is replicable and scalable: country-led, locally backed and globally multiplied.
With a national priority anchored in public investment, strengthened by local businesses and philanthropy, powered by evidence and amplified by GPE’s catalytic financing, early learning is becoming more than a program—it is becoming a national movement.
“Grenada has long-term political commitment from its Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Permanent Secretary of Education. It has created a technical alliance of international partners that work under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, bringing the best available evidence to secure and guarantee the success of this policy. And, very importantly, it has a sustainable funding system that is based on the public sector's funding, the private sector's contribution and an alliance with the multilateral institutions around the world.”
—Javier González, PhD, Director of SUMMA – Laboratory of Research and Innovation for Latin America and the Caribbean
Behind Grenada's new financing model is a child with a book in hand—a child who can read the words, understand the story, and discover the power of reading and its possibilities.
When a child learns to read, they do more than pass a test; they open up their future.
