There is nothing unreasonable or out of place about the recent calls for the Ministry of Education to put their voice to issues that are considered of national import.
Those who have issued official statements, the slew of callers on Down to Brasstacks and the country in general have all rights to be concerned as it relates to the apparent silence from the ministry officials.
The great Winston Churchill is credited as saying: “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
He is absolutely correct. We ought to learn from history. And this is what history tells us as it relates to the readiness of the education system on the eve of last years’ Michaelmas term.
More than 20 teachers found out their services were no longer needed while 12 principals and 17 deputies were shifted and notified hours before the start of the term. Schools were incomplete as it relates to repairs. Then as the term and school year progressed several schools became plagued by environmental issues.
During the 2023 – 2024 school year Lester Vaughan, Wesley Hall, Mount Tabor, Ann Hill, St Giles, Luther Thorne Primary, St Paul’s Primary and others were constantly disrupted because of health concerns.
At the time, reacting to the late notice given to principals and deputies, President of the BSTU Mary Redman said: “It has caused confusion and dislocation. From time to time there are transfers of one or two persons; this number of transfers at the beginning of the school year is unprecedented. They were only notified by the Ministry of Education a day before the start of the school term or, in some cases, on the same day.”
President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell said there had been no discussions with the union about the 20 contracted teachers. He was incensed about the timing, given that the teachers were only notified a week before the start of their working term.
“Some people are a bit nervous given the commitments they have. Some teachers have children to send to school, some have mortgages, some have other commitments that can only be met with employment,” Lovell said at the time.
We go back to put this recent debate in context. We are all aware of what transpired in September 2023.
Therefore, there is nothing sinister or outrageous about recent statements in the press accredited to DLP opposition spokesperson on Education Felicia Dujon or those of parent/student advocate Paula-Anne Moore.
Dujon is calling for an update on the school facilities being ready, transparency on educational reforms, timely appointments of teachers and principals, and proactive communication with parents. Her call to Brasstacks this week also allowed for parents and guardians to call and air their concerns as well.
“As we prepare for the new school term, the ministry must step up and address these issues head-on. Our children, teachers, and parents deserve better, and it is up to those in positions of power to make sure they get it. We cannot afford to let these issues persist. The time for action is now. This approach breeds frustration and mistrust. The ministry needs to be proactive in its communication,” Dujon said.
Likewise, Paula-Anne Moore, spokesperson for the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados and the Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress, is appealing to the ministry to release the national report on this year’s’ CXC results. The non-disclosure also means that students who are eligible for Barbados Scholarships and Exhibitions “remain in a state of uncertainty”.
“These students are being kept in an anxious limbo of non-existent communication and confirmation of their status. We are anxious to hear of Barbados’ national overall performance, not just the academic scholarship awardees, particularly given the recent reports on the disturbing regional CSEC Mathematics pass rate,” she said.
Moore reported that neighbouring countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana have already published their national results.
Both Dujon and Moore used the same words and called for “greater accountability in the Ministry of Education”.
But here we are again. It is as though the pleas of spokespersons, the media and citizens at large, have all gone unnoticed. It is as if no one is listening or taking heed of past missteps with a view of correcting them.
There is no reason why the ministry should be in this position at this time this year. There is no reason why a parents’ advocate should be asking the ministry to do the right thing by disclosing the CXC results. There is no reason why the Opposition should have to point out the obvious after how things transpired last year.
We remind the Ministry of Education, the minister of Education and the Chief Education Officer – that they are accountable to taxpayers.
