11-Plus date set for May 2 but some parents upset

The Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) is going back to the traditional May date, but some parents are adamant the extra time given over the last three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic should be allowed again this year.

The announcement of the May 2, 2023 date for the test, also known as the Common Entrance or 11-Plus exam, was made by Education Officer in the Examination and Assessment Department at the Ministry of Education Shamin Ally at one of the first BSSEE town hall meetings for 2023, held at the Lester Vaughan School in Cane Garden, St Thomas, on Thursday evening.

The reaction from parents in attendance was swift, with many saying children needed more time.

Ally told Barbados TODAY she would take the concerns to Ministry of Education officials.

Education Officer in the Examination and Assessment Department at the Ministry of Education Shamin Ally.

“It’s our job to take feedback to the ministry,” she said. “I believe, though, this is a Cabinet decision. We can still take feedback to the ministry and let the chief and the deputy as well in exams know what parents are thinking but I cannot make [the parents] any promises.”

“The feedback, though, will get back to the powers that be,” Ally promised.

As a result of the disruption to teaching caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the exam was pushed back to July 14 in 2020. The following two years, students sat the exam on July 28, 2021 and July 5, 2022.

Among the parents who did not agree with a May date was Stacia Andrews.

“I believe the date of May 2nd is too close…. It should be pushed back for the children’s sake to get comfortable,” said the mother of a Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School student.

Desiree Beckles added that she did not believe students would be ready.

“I think the whole system is flawed. It doesn’t cater to the needs of every student and it would be hard to find a system that fills the needs of every student but we’ve been playing football with the Common Entrance too long. The date would be a problem,” she said.

Another parent who requested anonymity was adamant that given the challenges posed in education as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a later date should be given.

“I was thinking that I don’t necessarily agree with the date so early because during the COVID-19 pandemic the children were a bit disadvantaged and the learning environment was a bit fast paced and it was fairly new,” she said.

The young mother recalled the issues some students faced, including slow Internet connections, no Wi-Fi at all in some cases, and little to no access to devices.

“I think they should really consider pushing it back by a month or even six weeks, two months – something like that. They may not want to push it back to July but maybe sometime around June, just to give everybody time to catch up,” she said.

“Everybody learns differently. Some children learn at different rates but the ones that have the potential, we should give them that chance,” she said firmly.

Meanwhile, Ally said that she was “very impressed with the turnout” on Thursday as the school hall was filled to capacity.

“I was surprised at the turnout. I was pleasantly surprised. I told the guys to put out 120 seats but, as you can see, the room overflowed,” she noted.

The series of town hall meetings, which are hosted yearly by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT), are used to aid the parents /guardians and teachers in learning about the processes involved in the administration of the BSSEE.

There was also another session scheduled for Thursday at the Grantley Adams Memorial School in Blackman’s, St Joseph.

There are 12 more meetings scheduled between January 7 and 19. (MR)