A non-profit co-operative association in Halifax has won a primary school curriculum development contract worth $726,000 in Trinidad and Tobago.

EduNova was one of six companies short-listed for the project, which was tendered internationally.

Being the successful candidate in contract competitions of this caliber proves that Nova Scotia has an incredible depth of expertise, says Wendy Luther, president and CEO of EduNova.

A team of 18 local experts will travel between Nova Scotia and Trinidad and Tobago where they will help local professionals rewrite existing educational curriculum. “We are not taking Nova Scotia curriculum, it’s developed in their country,” says Issmat Al-Akhali, director of project development for EduNova. The contract ends in September, and is one of two they are currently working on in that country.

The organization has been very successful in the English-speaking Caribbean; In addition to the contracts with Trinidad and Tobago they have two in the Dominican Republic and one in St. Vincent.

Their largest project to date—worth $12 million, was in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The on-site team included 35 leadership mentors, curriculum advisors, teaching mentors, language teachers and translators who assisted in implementing an English-based curriculum, and helped develop programs to improve educational standards. That contract ended in 2009, and EduNova is currently pursuing new business in the area.

EduNova assembles and manages teams of independent contractors who develop specific local curricula for their clients, and ensure local teachers and professionals are fully trained to use the content. Contract professionals come from academic institutions throughout the province, including Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax and Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Their members have worked in more than 100 countries.

By Cathi Stevenson