Minister reports sharp decline in enrolment

Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training Kay McConney is concerned about a major dip in school enrolment over the past six years, as she promised widespread reform of the education system.

On Wednesday, McConney reported “Since the school year 2014/2015 we have had a 22 per cent drop nationally in the enrolment in school.

“What that means is that Barbados has fewer persons enrolling in schools and when we look at also what is happening with our population, we are not producing at a fast rate, it says to us that there are fewer and fewer persons certainly when we start calculating when these students will leave school. We are recognising that with 22 per cent less enrolment we will take a hit in our human capital in our labour force coming forward,” said McConnie.

She said it was therefore critical for reform that will “optimise those who are in the system and those who are able to engage through the multiple intelligences we seek to recognise”.

“Some of the challenges we face, not only that 22 per cent drop in enrolment nationally – while some parishes like parts of St Philip and Christ Church have increased, we have seen marked decreases in places like St Lucy and some other parishes.

“What I will say to you is that we are also seeing an underperformance in some areas.

We are seeing lower levels of certification, which we said we are going to address through other levels of certification. We are seeing a significant amount of male attrition – boys dropping out of schools and becoming disengaged – and there is an absence of standards, whether it is for teaching or in other areas where we need to address,” said McConney.

“I say that to say that the reform that has to be done is bigger than just the Common Entrance exam, but it is looking at a whole of the issues, the opportunities we can now take up based on the trends in the world but equally so, those challenges that we are facing as a country,” she said. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb