Educator proposes possible fixes for system

An education expert is suggesting that the introduction of a middle school and a full zoning system may be two possible options to help Barbados resolve some of the issues in its education system.

Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Education, University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom, Garry Hornby, who lives in Barbados, has suggested that some secondary schools be transformed into middle schools and others be academic or specialist schools to which primary school pupils are transferred, based not on an 11-plus exam but on their geographical location.

Explaining the idea of full zoning, he proposed that all students at 11 years old transfer to high schools nearest to their homes, with assessment data from primary schools used to place pupils in mixed ability classes and identify those with special needs who will need learning support.

Delivering his presentation during the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Virtual Symposium titled Will 11+ Selection and Placement Always Be Part of our Future?, Professor Hornby added that three-year middle schools would have both academic and vocational curricula available to pupils in Forms 1, 2 and 3. He said all students would have access to a wide range of curriculum options to avoid streaming, and the transfer to high schools would be based on continuous assessment and examination.

He pointed out, however, that introducing middle schools would require the development of curricula and teachers, assessments for transfer to high schools, and construction of additional schools, and, so, would likely take several years and be considerably costly to implement.

Professor Hornby said that with full zoning, the academic and vocational curricula would be in effect for the first three years of secondary school, with increased focus from Form 4, leading to either CXC or CVQs.

“And then at age 16, they transfer to sixth-form colleges if we go that route, and the highly prestigious schools such as Queen’s College and Harrison College could become sixth-form colleges. So, the entry to those would be based on CXC results. So, in other words, it would be based on five years of the children’s work and achievements at age 16, rather than selection based at age 11 as we now have. And other children may not want to go on to CXCs; many want to go on to polytechnic, hospitality school, community colleges or take up jobs,” he explained.

Professor Hornby suggested that the full zoning plan could be implemented within three years. It would include allocation to zones, development of vocational curriculum, training for teachers on mixed ability teaching, training for primary teachers on formative assessment and a broader curriculum, organizing support for special needs, increasing parental and community involvement, upgrading of school facilities and the creation of two sixth-form colleges.

“A major part of that would be organizing support for special needs within secondary schools. So, for example, each secondary school has a trained special needs or learning support coordinator who could take information on what the kids’ learning needs are, whether they be remedial needs. A major component of the change would need to be the development of a policy and an organizational structure for special needs within schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, Providence Secondary School teacher Dr Marcia Pilgrim, who specializes in special education, said education experts were hopeful that Barbados would “be free at last” from the constraints of the 11-plus exam and its damaging effects.

The educator, who also participated in the webinar, contended that while the Mia Mottley-led Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration was committed to change, it has not yet outlined a clear plan to implement change and there is yet to be public discussion on the issue.

“But we are hopeful that we are moving from should we, to how will we replace the 11-plus. However, many people involved in education are keen to establish a more impulsive and equitable system that supports educational excellence for all and produces the highly skilled workforce needed to drive growth going into the 21st century,” Pilgrim said.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)