Education, Youth and Sports

Revolutionise Education and Youth Development

Building a Cayman where everyone has a fair chance to succeed must start with education.

Our public education system is failing our young people. We owe it to the next generation to better equip them with the skills they need to access jobs and build a secure and successful future.

TCCP believes the foundation for academic success is universal access to a world-class early childhood education system. As students progress through the school system, education should nurture the whole child fostering creativity, character and civic responsibility as well as academic attainment. For school leavers, there should be more non-traditional pathways to the workforce, as well as tertiary opportunities for Caymanians of all ages.

TCCP will revolutionise our education system and our workforce development by:

Early years

• Ensuring every child, regardless of their background, has access to high quality and affordable early years education through an income-based fee system and piloting early years programmes in more communities
• Lowering the age threshold eligibility from 3 years to 1 year and increasing the funding for Early Childhood Assistance Programme (ECAP)
• Investing in quality teaching and resources by developing a play-centered curriculum, ensuring appropriate teacher-child ratios and safe, stimulating environments
• Increasing resources for screening and funding of special education needs
• Creating parent education programmes to engage and support families
• Incentivising schools to hire or upskill staff to become literary specialists

Primary

• Piloting early years in core subjects and skills by personalising student learning approaches and establishing centres of excellence in larger districts
• Increasing the funding for screening and evaluation of special education needs
• Expanding special education teaching and learning
• Introducing the Innovation in Education programme by integrating STEAM throughout the curriculum and supporting student entrepreneurship initiatives
• Building on the ECAP foundation, creating a Primary School Assistance Programme for eligible students
• Expanding funding for extracurricular and enrichment activities delivered on school sites
• Exploring education-specific performance management systems for public school teachers
• Restructuring the curriculum to integrate mandatory emotional literacy, character development, heritage and culture programmes with academic subjects

Secondary

• Adding skills development and a range of TVET subjects starting in Year 7
• Increasing social-economic and educational support for at risk youth
• Increasing financial support for special educational needs screening and support
• Expanding funding for extra-curricular and enrichment activities delivered on school sites
• Implementing a National TVET Strategy and funding a specialist TVET college
• Exploring education-specific performance management systems for public school teachers
• Developing a national programme to ensure students graduate with meaningful work experience
• Adapting the curriculum to integrate mandatory life skills training, critical thinking and character development programmes with academic subjects

Tertiary

• Increasing scholarships for post-secondary 1–2-year certifications
• Expanding non-traditional education and professional development opportunities including apprenticeship programmes and work-based learning models

Youth

While some of our children and young people are thriving, too many are developing without essential life skills, emotional intelligence and positive social engagement, leading to a generation inadequately prepared to live their best lives.

We believe that all children should be able to develop in a wholesome, caring, stimulating and child-centred environment in order to achieve their full potential regardless of the household income or the parenting abilities of the adults in their lives.

We will update and implement a new 10-year strategic education plan, which will include a phased approach to reintegrating our public schools.

Working in collaboration with schools and the wider community, TCCP will cultivate a nurturing environment for each and every child by:

• Funding and expanding after-school enrichment programmes to include sports and physical activities, performing arts, tutoring, tech and sustainability programmes and community service
• Expanding existing and facilitating new youth recreation and development programmes during weekends, school breaks and summer holidays
• Creating structured opportunities for teens to get work experience, earn their own money and explore potential careers
• Expanding support for the YMCA and other well-run organisations to help scale their programming into more communities
• Better utilizing the Intergenerational Hub and creating youth centres in other districts
• Implementing a mandatory school-based mental health programme that includes screening, counselling services, emotional intelligence training and dedicated mental health professionals on staff
• Expanding parenting programmes to include training, resources, and support services
• Providing advanced learning opportunities and challenges for gifted and talented children
• Establishing a centre of excellence for gifted athletes to help them begin reaching their full potential from an early age — starting in primary school — and preparing them for greater opportunities at the university and professional levels overseas

By investing in the education, well-being, and development of our youth, we strengthen the very fabric of our collective community and create a more equitable and prosperous society that benefits citizens of all ages.

 

Sport

Sports serve as a powerful tool for both individual development and community cohesion, creating stronger, more resilient societies. Building on Cayman’s rich sporting heritage, our long-term vision is one where the Cayman Islands become the regions’ standard bearer for sporting excellence while nurturing healthier, more connected communities through expansion and innovation of current sports offerings.

 

Excellence

Establish Cayman as a regional leader in sports development by supporting and expanding, or in some cases introduce, best-in-class programs especially across our eight focus sports: athletics, basketball, netball, swimming, football, cricket, volleyball, and squash and other sports.

 

Accessibility

Ensure every Caymanian student or resident child, regardless of economic status, has access to quality sports facilities, professional coaching, and essential equipment in each of the 8 focus sports so that every child can fulfill their potential.

 

Investment

Increase the number of safe, modern and fit for purpose multi-sport community hubs supported by certified local coaches and health and wellness programmes to create clear pathways from grassroots to elite competition.

 

Community

Foster stronger communities through sports, encouraging the integration of school programs with local clubs and cultivating a strong community engagement with both youth and adult sports.

 

Resilience & Emotional Intelligence

Equip our coaches and sports leadership teams to harness the inherent challenges of sport – wins and losses, setbacks, teamwork and competition – as opportunities to develop emotional intelligence and personal resilience. By intentionally incorporating mental wellness, mindfulness and reflective practices into coaching and training environments, we help young athletes build critical coping skills, emotional regulation, and confidence that extends far beyond the playing field.

 

Life Skills & Leadership

Use sport as a platform to cultivate leadership, accountability, communication and teamwork – skills that are invaluable to both personal and professional life. Through tailored and accessible workshops, mentorship and practical experiences, we will support teens and young adults in identifying and strengthening these transferrable skills. Intentionality with this practice will empower the next generation to become capable, self-aware contributors to their communities and more competitive candidates for work opportunities.

 

Elite Athlete Support

Establish a sports excellence fund to support our top athletes with training, equipment, and travel expenses for international competitions and create pathways for them to be involved in coaching the next generation. Ensure this fund promotes and provides equitable access across the full spectrum of Cayman’s focus sports.

 

Elevate Local Sport Careers

Offer expanded education and exposure to the broader sport industry, helping youth understand the wide range of professional opportunities beyond coaching – such as sports analytics, law, marketing, media, sports psychologist, organisational leadership. By fostering early awareness and access through networking, mentorship, and real-world experiences, we can cultivate a generation of Caymanian professionals equipped to thrive both on and off the field – elevating the national sports landscape and positioning the Cayman Islands as a hub for talent, innovation, and industry leadership.

 

Legacy

Build a sustainable sports ecosystem that benefits generations of Caymanians, promotes national pride, and establishes the Cayman Islands as a beacon of sporting excellence in the Caribbean.

 

Sports bring together people from different backgrounds, fostering understanding and cultural exchange. Organized sports teach important social skills like cooperation, conflict resolution, and respect for others. Through collaborative partnerships and elevated standards, we will create a sustainable sports ecosystem that benefits all Caymanians while fostering excellence at every level of participation.