Update: IDB takes responsibility for controversial Computer Science test administered to first formers

 

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has accepted full responsibility for the controversial Computer Science test that was recently taken by first form students.

 The parents of some of the students who took the test on Monday told Barbados TODAY that their children were subjected to “distasteful and invasive” questions in the Computer Science pre-test, including some that quizzed them on their sexuality, gender identity, substance use and abuse as well as personal information about their parents.

Below is the full statement from  the Inter-American Development Bank

The Inter-American Development Bank expresses regret that a survey administered by the
Bank to children in the Barbados secondary school system has offended many Barbadians.
The Bank sincerely apologises, but stresses that no offence was intended.

The questions at the centre of concern, to which the Ministry of Education had objected prior to the administering of
the survey and which were inadvertently left in the paper, have been removed.
The IDB recognises its position as a development partner with the Government of Barbados, with a long and mutually respectful relationship, and assures Barbadians it would not deliberately engage in any practice that would harm that relationship. (IDB)