PM says 11-Plus abolition cannot be rushed

While the Government’s pledge to abolish the Common Entrance Examination remains unchanged, Prime Minister Mia Mottley today signalled that the transition to the new system is still some ways off.

More than two years ago, Government declared the exam would be abolished as part of sweeping changes to improve the education system. Public consultations on the new system were however shelved as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Giving an update today while speaking on the Down to Brasstacks radio call-in programme Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the Ministry of Education is still to complete the final reform paper, but insisted the process could not be rushed.

She said any education reform is “at least a two or three year process.”

“Let me however assure you and all Barbadians and all parents and all children that the abolition of the 11-plus is not a decision that can be made today for tomorrow and that whatever paper comes will probably have a minimum of a two-year lead up in order to put things in place because what you are transitioning from is a system that has been in place for decades.

“And therefore whenever the paper comes and whenever the consultations start and whenever the decision is settled, then you still need to have a long lead up in order to execute and to have a seamless transition as long as possible.”

Mottley revealed that the changes could entail a middle school arrangement for first and second formers that would allow them to decide what school they want to attend at 13 and 14, rather than at 10 and 11.

“If we can make every school,  a school of excellence as I have said, that then gives them a fair chance both in terms of teaching, in terms of equipment, in terms of the environment. That is where we want to go.”    

She stressed that children must no longer be subjected to being condemned because of the school they attended and every effort must be made to maximise the strengths of young people to develop. (SD)