#BTColumn – Education reform to empower

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by John Goddard

The ubiquitous block culture, the increasing number of young people who lack skills for the world of work, low productivity and the alarming level of violence in our society are causes of great concern to Barbadians.

There are, of course, several factors contributing to these problems, but in this article, I wish to focus on the shortcomings in our educational system, which I see
as a significant factor.

At present, too many of our secondary school graduates feel marginalised and hopeless. What is needed is reform of the system to cater to the needs of all children and their diverse gifts.

First, we need to replace the method of transferring children from primary to secondary schools. Government should consider converting about four of the present schools with sixth forms into sixth form colleges, specialising in the Humanities; Science and Technology; Arts, including Visual, Dance and Theatre; Social Sciences; Food and Nutrition; Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Sports. All other secondary schools would take students from within their catchment area.

All children would receive a basic secondary education up to 3rd form, after which those with the interest and aptitude to pursue technical/vocational studies would, following discussion with parents, teachers and the students themselves, be transferred to schools specially established for this purpose. Pupils wishing and able to follow a strictly academic programme would continue to fifth form.

After successfully completing CSEC, they would be admitted to the sixth form colleges or the Barbados Community College.

Meanwhile, at the Technical/Vocational schools, pupils, in addition to their areas of specialty, would be required to study English, Mathematics, Civics, Conversational Spanish and Physical Education. Such institutions would prepare their charges for the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology or the world of work.

The one size fits all structure of our present system leads to frustration and a waste of resources and should be discarded.

Educational authorities must demonstrate that they value Technical/Vocational subjects as well as Sports and Culture. National awards should be expanded to include these non-traditional areas.

The present bias in favour of the Sciences and Humanities is discriminatory and must be brought to an end. Multiple intelligences should be recognised and rewarded.

Some years ago, a serious mistake was made in allowing students to drop Literature, thereby creating an artificial division between Language and Literature.

Literature is about life and provides pupils with the opportunity to grapple with the complex issues that characterise the human condition. Our youngsters need to develop sympathy and empathy and learn how to cope with life’s challenges, which the creative imaginations of
writers produce.

Values education through exposure to the great world religions should also be part of the curriculum. We need to arrest the spread of moral decay which threatens to derail everything we hold dear.

Given the need for food security, I wish to suggest that there is a need for a College of Agriculture, which would provide more of our young people with the requisite skills to engage in farming and other aspects of the food industry. The College should have green houses, adequate land and necessary facilities for the cultivation of crops, animal husbandry and agro-processing.

There is a need for a well-structured national youth service which should be mandatory for youth over 16 who are not working or enrolled in an educational/training institution. We can no longer afford to have hundreds of strong able-bodied young people not gainfully occupied and ill-equipped for productive activity just passing the time of day or planning criminal activity.

Finally, I am concerned about how this society deals with children who run afoul of the law and are sent to the Government Industrial Schools. At present, the schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. I propose that these young offenders become the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, which should provide them with the teaching and other resources available to regular schools. Wards of the Government Industrial Schools should exit better prepared to face the challenges of living.

If we wish to reduce crime, we have to alleviate the conditions which lead to crime. I believe that sensible educational reform is a good place to start.

John Goddard, retired but always an educator.