School vandalism ‘down sharply’ as govt links drop to ‘zero-tolerance’ policy, beautification

Incidents of school vandalism have fallen sharply over the past two years, ministry officials said during a press conference on Wednesday, citing a firm zero-tolerance stance.

 

The update comes as the government begins to roll out a major national beautification programme aimed at modernising learning environments and fostering pride in school spaces.

 

Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman said that while incidents of vandalism still occur, the overall trend has improved markedly.

 

He told journalists at the ministry’s Constitution Road headquarters: “Over the last year or two we’ve seen a significant decrease in issues of vandalism across the school, but equally there’s still some students who may believe that they can do foolishness.”

 

The ministry and legislation were clear and unequivocal, he declared. “The Chief [Education Officer] has made it very clear, the permanent secretary has made it very clear and the law is very clear that there are consequences to actions and if there’s students who believe that they want to test the law, I highly recommend they do not.”

 

Blackman stressed that the goal was not only to reduce incidents but to eliminate them altogether. “We need to get to a situation where it is at zero and the government certainly has a zero tolerance to vandalism,” he said.

 

Linking the decline in vandalism to improvements in school appearance and maintenance, he added: “There’s a psychology to excellence, there’s a psychology to cleanliness, there’s a psychology to fit-for-purpose infrastructure. It is highly unlikely, not impossible, but highly unlikely for the incidence of vandalism to take place when persons see a place that is fit for purpose, it’s clean and everything.”

 

Concerns about student vandalism are not new. In 2011, seven students from Coleridge & Parry School were required to clean graffiti from a public bus following repeated complaints, highlighting persistent issues with school-related damage. Incidents continue to be monitored island-wide.

 

Last month, the Transport Board stepped up warnings to schoolchildren after five cases of student-related bus vandalism were referred to police during the last academic year. Officials reminded the public that defacing public vehicles is a criminal offence and that students or their parents can be charged for damaging state property.

 

During the press conference, the Barbados Best Kept Schools Competition was launched, a national beautification initiative from January to April 2026. It forms part of wider educational transformation efforts on the eve of the island’s 59th Independence anniversary and fourth year as a Republic.

 

Blackman said the programme extends beyond aesthetics, stressing that transformation must be both infrastructural and cultural. “It is also about ensuring that students and teachers and those who engage with schools can feel a sense of ownership and pride in a place that they feel comfortable in.”

 

The minster insisted that schools should resemble professional environments that encourage learning: “When you go to a school you should feel like this is a place of business, this is a place of learning, this is a place of higher understanding, this is a place of exploration.”

 

Blackman acknowledged past infrastructural challenges but emphasised the government’s commitment to modernising teaching spaces: “The ministry has been and is committed in ensuring that the infrastructure of the buildings is transformed into the future of what we believe is the acceptable standard of buildings anywhere in Barbados with respect to education.”

 

Officials confirmed that classroom assessments are already under way and that targeted upgrades will continue in phases, including repairs to ageing structures, improved ventilation, and better-equipped classrooms to support modern teaching methods with minimal disruption.

 

The competition includes a strong community component. Residents, retired workers, former students, gardeners, landscapers, youth groups, Scouts and Guides will help with landscaping and garden upkeep during and after the judging period. The minister highlighted the link between clean environments and responsible behaviour:
“When you go into a school that is beautiful and clean the likelihood of littering is almost zero. Places which are dirty are oftentimes dirty because of its dirtiness. People are not necessarily inclined to keep it clean.”

 

The ministry will soon roll out new national standards for school infrastructure and landscaping. Blackman said the initiative is part of preparing students for the future, emphasising: “This is not just about transforming education for education’s sake. This is about really transforming a nation through education and creating and changing a culture to prepare our citizens for the world.”

 

The programme reflects Barbados’ ongoing nation building, Blackman suggested: “This is how a republic deals with the future.”

(SZB)