DLP calls for urgent reform in the education of boys

The Opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling for urgent reforms in the education system, focusing on the ongoing underperformance of male students and the rise in school violence.

In a press release issued this week, DLP spokesperson on education Felicia Dujon congratulated students who sat this year’s Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) but warned that the system continues to fail many, particularly male students.

This year, girls again outperformed boys in both English and maths. Female students scored above the national mean across all sections, while males continued to perform below average, Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw revealed on Tuesday when the exam results were announced.

Dujon argued that boys are not underachieving because of a lack of ability, but because the current structure does not support their learning styles.

“The education system continues to ignore how they learn, what inspires them, and what support they need to thrive,” she said. “We are not witnessing a failure of children, but a failure of the structures built to educate them.”

Dujon referenced a 2012 Commonwealth Secretariat report that linked boys’ disengagement to a lack of positive male role models within schools.

She called for urgent steps to recruit more male teachers, especially at the primary level, where early intervention is key to reversing learning gaps.

The DLP also recommended improvements to the National Literacy and Numeracy Programme. It suggested starting reform from the Reception level, placing trained literacy and numeracy coaches in vulnerable schools, and using student-focused and culturally relevant teaching methods.

Rising school violence was identified as another serious concern. Dujon noted that fear in schools affects learning, as the DLP called for a national safety and mental wellness strategy.

That strategy, according to the opposition party, should include regular mental health assessments, peer support groups, and conflict resolution programmes that are embedded in the school culture. Dujon stressed that ensuring emotional safety is just as important as academic support and both are essential for long-term student success.

Another recommendation was for a national study to examine the factors behind low achievement among boys. Dujon said reforms must be guided by research and a better understanding of how students respond in their learning environments. (LE/AA)