The highly contentious Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (BSSEE) will be resuscitated for another year even after being given final rites by at least two ministers in recent years.
The announcement from Minister of Education Ms Kay McConney during her tour of BSSEE examination sites across the island on Tuesday, highlights the complexity involved in replacing the decades-long method for transitioning children from the primary to secondary school system.
It is a virtual minefield for any administration that seeks to bring about such a dramatic change to a system that has been baked into the psyche of citizens.
The 11-Plus exam, as it is commonly referred to, is the preferred method for assessing which children are accorded places in our suite of secondary schools. Despite the criticism of academics and some educators that the exam and the current process of transitioning pre-teens is fraught with deficiencies and is elitist, it remains popular among average citizens.
It continues to be argued that the current system benefits those who have means, and puts those who come from humble origins at a disadvantage.
References are made to the performance of children who attend the many private primary schools and the fact that their students, in the main, find places in the preferred older secondary schools.
The children of professionals who often prefer private schooling over public institutions are often planning for their children’s academic future from the time they are mere toddlers.
The elevation to the “top schools” is not by accident but the result of long-term strategic planning. While this planning does not necessarily require large sums, having access to financial resources certainly makes the process much easier.
In spite of what would appear to be overwhelming evidence of why some radical change was required in assigning children from primary to secondary school, average Barbadians are resistant to this change.
They simply are not convinced that the educational reform project touted by the ministry is the vehicle that will bring about equity and transparency, while preparing students for the future.
Many parents are prepared to trust an11-Plus exam process where you rise or fall based on your results, rather than a process of continuous assessment that may be subject to abuse, intrusion and backdoor interventions.
Even the stress and mental health impact of this one-shot examination are seen as part of the rite of passage that prepares students for the competitive world in which they will have to exist and learn to thrive.
It is interesting to note that England, from whom we adopted the 11-Plus exam, still offers this as a determination for secondary school entry. In fact, a 7-Plus and an 11-Plus system are part of the British educational system.
The announcement from Minister McConney that the 11-Plus exam will be written by students in 2025 is essentially giving her ministry one more year to get its educational reform plan out of the files and activated.
In its draft document of reimagining the island’s education system, the ministry acknowledges that the current system has historically served the country effectively.
However, it states: “We also recognise its lack of equitable service to all learners. This situation necessitates a thorough examination of our system to identify policies and practices that remain effective, areas requiring reinforcement, and those in need of reimagining.
“The overarching goal is to establish an education system that empowers all students to reach their full potential, fostering a future where opportunities are boundless and inclusive. Essentially, it should provide ‘A bright future for every child’.”
These are lofty goals,which citizens should be supporting. However, public backing of this plan has not concretised in the way the government may have anticipated.
Far from rejecting the 11-Plus exam, supporters appear more entrenched in their opposition to its removal and are simply not sold on the alternative being advanced by the Ministry of Education.
