The Common Entrance is a test, not a verdict

As thousands of anxious students across Barbados prepare to sit the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE) tomorrow, emotions will be running high — not just for children, but also for parents, teachers.

For the children, this will be their first major academic test. For parents and guardians, it may feel like a trial of their own — a culmination of years of guidance, support, extra lessons, early morning drop-offs and late-night revision sessions. For teachers, it is the end of months of hard work and preparation, delivered under the unique pressure of expectation that comes with this annual rite of passage.

The BSSEE – which we all know as the 11-plus or Common Entrance Exam – has, over the years, taken on a significance in the Barbadian psyche that is difficult to overstate. It is viewed by many as the dividing line between success and struggle, prestige and obscurity, privilege and perseverance. Some consider it the single most important educational moment of a child’s life.

But tonight — we invite the nation to pause and reflect. To step back from the myths and anxieties we have built around this exam and consider the children at the heart of it all.

They are ten and 11 years old — still growing, still learning how to navigate themselves and the world around them. They have survived a global pandemic, adapted to shifting school routines, and grown up in a world more complex than the one many adults faced at their age. The courage to even sit this exam under such circumstances deserves our recognition.

The truth — though often forgotten — is that this exam is not a measure of a child’s intelligence, creativity, character, or potential. It is a snapshot, taken on one day, of how well they perform under specific conditions. It is a tool to guide placement, not to assign value. And while results may feel life-changing in the moment, countless stories in Barbados and beyond have shown that true success in life has many entry points and pathways — and they are not all marked by the name of a school.

So, to the parents and guardians: reassure your children tonight. Let them know that you are proud of them, not for any mark they may earn tomorrow, but for the effort they have shown, the discipline they have developed, and the courage they are showing just by turning up and trying. Let your home be a place of peace tonight — not pressure. A child who feels safe and supported will always go further in the long run than one who is driven by fear of disappointing those they love.

To the teachers who have nurtured, drilled, uplifted, and reassured their students through this process — we offer our sincere thanks. Your work often goes uncelebrated, but your role is indispensable. You are not merely preparing students for an exam; you are helping to build Barbados’ next generation of thinkers, leaders, innovators and citizens.

To the wider public — we must all do our part in reshaping the narrative that this exam is a be-all and end-all. We must stop projecting our social biases onto the shoulders of children. We must value every school, invest in every child, and understand that excellence can emerge from anywhere.

To the students: tomorrow is a big day. But it is not the only day that will define your future. Walk into your exam room with confidence. Take a deep breath. Read each question carefully. Do your best — and then let it go. You are not a score. You are a whole person, filled with potential that cannot be captured by any number on a piece of paper.

Regardless of which school your results point you toward, what will matter most in the years ahead is your discipline, your attitude, your kindness, and your courage to keep learning.

Let tomorrow be a moment of encouragement, not comparison. Let it be the start of something, not the end.

Tomorrow is important — but it is not everything.