BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – 2 December 2020 – Students across Barbados will soon be asked for their thoughts on what kind of education system they want for their future.
Education, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Santia Bradshaw made the announcement last Friday as she addressed a ceremony for primary and secondary school principals at the Wildey Gymnasium.
“I want to hear about the concerns many of you have as Head Boys and Head Girls. I’m sure you interact with other students who have concerns about education, concerns about the online environment, the blended approach, all of that.
“It is important that you have a say, just like your parents have a say in various forums, just like your teachers will have a say, just like our principals have a say, just like the general public has a say. I believe we cannot change the way we teach and learn unless we also hear from you about the students that this education system will impact,” the minister told students.
She explained that while the government wanted to change the curriculum to make it more relevant to students, it was important to ensure that the changes targeted those with academic, technical and vocational skills.
Ms. Bradshaw also noted that the government’s drive to transform Barbados cannot be fully recognized without targeting schools, especially those at the primary and secondary levels, as it is the students of these institutions who are the future leaders of the country.
She noted that amid reports of students engaging in negative behavior, it was the responsibility of leaders to continue to work with them to ensure they become agents of change.
“[So] that you begin to write a different narrative in your schools, communities and churches and see yourself as capable of changing the narrative on how people perceive young people and especially your colleagues in schools,” she said. declared.
The Minister for Education urged the students to recognize that they are all important and that leadership matters, thanking them for being “outstanding young boys and girls in our society”.
Ms Bradshaw also urged young leaders to ensure students in their respective schools continue to follow COVID-19 protocols.
The current government of Barbados actively seeks to uproot British traditions up to and including the Queen from the island and replace them with Barbadian traditions, but it continues to adhere to British spelling. It will be interesting to see if students will want to switch to the slightly more simplified American spelling, which is becoming the standard for English in many countries in the region.
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