BARBADOS | Education Transformation A Priority For Government

BRIDGETOWN,  Barbados, Octobert 6, 2023 -Prime Minister Mia Mia Mottley is insisting that education transformation will be a top priority for Government, as she rallied ministries and residents in communities across Barbados to join in the quest to do so.

Ms. Mottley emphasised this yesterday during the official launch of the Education Transformation Proposals, under the theme Reimagining Education in Barbados: A Bright Future for Every Child, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael.

The Prime Minister stressed that the task could not be executed only by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training.

“I have already met with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to indicate that this project of education transformation must take priority in the public sector investment programme along with water and other key things that this country must have. We have had a difficult period yes, but we believe that we have shepherded the economy to the point not where it is at perfection, but where it gives us some elbow room. I believe that there are some things that do not need to wait until September 2025,” she stated.  

Ms. Mottley also underscored the importance of partnerships in the education transformation journey and shared that Government would acquire the old Ursuline Convent at Collymore Rock and purchase land at Chelston, St. Michael, to construct two new schools, whose focus is to prepare students for careers in specialist areas such as the blue and green economy.

She also shared that the Erdistion Teachers’ Training College would be paired with an Ivy League school to ensure enhanced leadership training and continuous training for teachers. 

The Prime Minister proffered: “My responsibility, therefore, is to tell you that we are ready…. We are ready to build the partnerships, recognising that it will only be a whole of nation approach that will make the difference this time around….

“We recognise that the partnerships will come with entities outside of Barbados, as we have already established with XQ Institute, who have agreed to build two new secondary schools for us once the Government provides the land….”

She stressed that Barbados could no longer continue to export its best brains overseas and the decolonisation of education was necessary to remove the mental barriers that now have to be deconstructed. 

“This country cannot keep exporting some of its best talent simply because we have not given them the chance to be the best that they can be in the land of their birth.  This is going to require a very comprehensive and detailed exercise and I believe that this country is up to the task….” Ms. Mottley underlined.   

At the launch, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, and Director of the Education Transformation Unit, Dr. Idamay Denny, gave an overview of the proposals, while Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, spoke of the need for the transformation.

Ms. McConney made it clear that Government was not seeking to abandon all that had served Barbados well over the years, but was building on a strong foundation in education.

She stated: “At the same time, we are not burying our heads in the sand; we are acknowledging that there are some real challenges within the education system that cannot wait for us to address them.”

Public consultations on the Education Transformation Proposals are expected to commence on Friday, October 13, and end on Friday, November 10.