#BTColumn – Let Class 4s do Common Entrance

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

by a group of concerned parents

We have made tremendous strides over the past few weeks regarding our COVID-19 situation, even though we know that we must not let our guard down.

We commend the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the medical fraternity and all other stakeholders for this achievement, mindful that there are still a few clusters out there, of which the Minister of Health has alluded to.

From over 800 persons in our facilities down to just over 240 is quite a feat. It is for this reason that we find it mind-boggling that the head of the BUT is so adamant and dismal in his approach to the re-commencing of in-class teaching.

Of particular concern is the situation regarding the Class 4s who are scheduled to take the Common Entrance Exam.

We do believe that the contents of this year’s exam should be condensed, and that deferrals for students who may be disadvantaged should be accommodated and we are confident that the Prime Minister and Minister of Education will do so.

One wonders if there is an ulterior motive, i.e. using COVID as a pretense to nullify this exam, commencing from this year.

We know there are persons ‘out there’ who should know better that are adamant that there should be no Common Entrance Exam – period. We know there is a well-known moderator who expunges his abolition of this exam constantly year after year. Of course, there are a few others for apparent economic benefits who feel likewise.

This is not only myopic but a serious travesty that if done in a vacuum can cause irreparable damage to our educational system.

This idea of the conversion to Middle School as practised in the USA as a better alternative requires intense study. This system certainly does not augur well for the students in the USA.

Most of them come out of the school system as they came in. Once the current safety health measures remain in place such as social distancing etc. for the exam, there is absolutely no reason why those Class 4 students who are able to take the exam on the suggested push-back date of July 20, should not be allowed to do so.

These thousands of students would have spent five years working towards this goal and it will be grossly unfair to deny them the opportunity at the eleventh hour to complete this task.

Special needs children should of course be taken care of to their advantage separately.

The way forward as to whether the Common Entrance Exam should be retained should be done via referendum and not by a select group of persons, some of whom may have their own personal agenda.

This article was submitted as a Letter to the Editor. This group is not associated with the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados.