PM: Stop expelling students at 16

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has strongly criticised the practice of expelling students from school at age 16, describing it as “nonsense” and calling for an end to it.

Speaking at the Ideas Forum in St Joseph on Tuesday evening, she demanded immediate reform.

“Even the ones that are giving trouble — we’ve asked the Chief Education Officer talk to the principals and let us get them to go back to school in uniform; stop sending people out of school at 16 in the middle of the school year,” the prime minister said. “It is nonsense. I said it when I was Minister of Education, and I’m horrified to hear that it is happening again. Stop it!”

Mottley also proposed a structured alternative for at-risk youth, suggesting that the Barbados Defence Force or the Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps collect students from school and engage them in disciplined, purpose-driven programmes throughout the day.

“So that we do not send them out of school to sit on the block,” she stressed. “If you have youngsters who can train to be the best across every single discipline — including surfing — let us know. The government will find a way to finance it . . . ”

Her remarks extended beyond education and pointed to the vital role of community support in nurturing talent.

“I want us to practise the art of followership,” she said. “If you’re not a good follower, you cannot have good leaders among you . . . .”

On the subject of gun violence, the Prime Minister warned of growing regional threats, referencing moves in other Caribbean nations toward gun legalisation. She denounced the glorification of firearms, linking it to video game culture and desensitisation to death.

“A gun does not walk, a gun does not talk. It has one purpose — to kill or to maim,” she said. “People think it’s sexy . . . they’ll soon understand it’s fatal.”

She urged parents to be vigilant, pointing out that the signs often appear at home first.

“You’re the one that’s going to know when your child comes home with a big gold chain you know you didn’t buy for him,” Mottley said. “Ask who gave it to him.  .  .  .[Same] for your daughter.”

Reinforcing that this is not a partisan issue, the prime minister called on citizens across political and social lines to unite.

“This is not a political call. This is a call for Barbados,” she declared. “[We] must be ready to stand up and step up.”

“Same way you . . . keep your house, you got a responsibility . . . as a Bajan to keep up the house of Barbados.”