New facility to foster early STEM skills: Hill

Construction is advancing on what will soon be Barbados’ largest daycare centre in an ambitious project led by the state-owned export promotion agency, with a unique focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.

The daycare is set to revolutionise early childhood education on the island, offering a dynamic curriculum that aims to immerse young children in STEM from their earliest years, Export Barbados’ Chief Executive Officer Mark Hill declared.

“This is not your typical daycare,” Hill told Barbados TODAY. “We are building something truly unique here – a STEM-oriented facility that will cater to 150 families, introducing children to the concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics from the moment they walk through the door. This isn’t just about preparing them for school; it’s about equipping them for life in a world where STEM is at the forefront of nearly every industry and aspect of modern living.”

The facility is expected to provide a comprehensive early learning experience designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills in children. 

Hill outlined the vision: “STEM education is about more than just teaching kids how to code or solve maths problems. It’s about helping them understand the world around them, to see how things work, and to question why they work that way. It’s about fostering a mindset that embraces challenges, thinks creatively, and isn’t afraid to fail and try again.”

STEM, an interdisciplinary educational approach, integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to encourage students to apply their knowledge across multiple disciplines. Hill emphasised that this approach will give young Barbadians a head start in developing essential skills for the future. 

“Imagine a child learning the fundamentals of coding before they can even write in cursive—that’s the kind of head start we’re talking about,” he said.

Construction on the facility has reached an advanced stage, with the team recently completing the ring beam phase and now preparing to install the roof. Once finished, the daycare will be the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, Hill vowed, featuring state-of-the-art facilities such as interactive whiteboards, tablets, and coding kits to engage children in hands-on learning experiences. It will also boast dedicated spaces for robotics, science experiments, and creative arts, all aimed at offering a holistic STEM education, he said.

Hill highlighted the importance of this early exposure to STEM education for Barbados’ future. “A lot of other economies start training their youngsters in science and technology from the time they’re in nursery. Why can’t we do the same in Barbados? We want our children to have the same opportunities, to be just as prepared to enter the workforce of the future as children in any other part of the world.”

This initiative aligns with Export Barbados’ broader strategy to position the country as a regional leader in technological advancement. Hill underscored the importance of STEM education for maintaining global competitiveness: “We’re not just following trends – we’re setting new standards for early education in the Caribbean.”

Hill said the daycare centre is expected to serve as a model in the Caribbean, demonstrating how early childhood education can be transformed to meet the demands of a technology-driven world. 

“We believe that this daycare will set a new standard for early education in the Caribbean,” said Hill. “It’s not just about preparing children for school; it’s about preparing them for life in a world where science and technology are at the forefront of everything we do.”

The export promotion boss said the project is also set to have significant economic benefits, creating numerous job opportunities in education and running and maintaining the centre. Hill sees this as part of a wider mission to drive economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship: “Building this daycare is not just about the children who will attend—it’s about the community as a whole. We’re creating jobs, we’re fostering innovation, and we’re setting an example for what’s possible when we invest in our future.”

The centre will also offer resources to help parents support their children’s STEM education at home, fostering a community-centred approach to learning. 

Hill said: “We want parents to be an active part of their children’s education. By providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to support STEM learning at home, we can create a more cohesive and effective educational experience for these children.” 

(RG)