Rotary project aims to support dyslexic students with early screening, teacher training

The Rotary Club of Barbados West has launched a national initiative to improve literacy support for children with dyslexia, bringing together government, service clubs and education partners to expand early screening and specialist teacher training across schools.

At the ceremony to launch Dyslexia Screening and Intervention Project at the Caribbean Dyslexia Centre, Haggatt Hall, Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman described the initiative as “particularly important” within the context of Barbados’ 60th year of independence and five years as a republic, stressing that education reform must now move beyond tradition and embrace inclusivity as a national priority.  

“This is a pivotal moment in the development of Barbados,” he said. “We must now ask ourselves how do we ensure that education, particularly inclusive education, can help us to unlock the potential of our country and reposition Barbados for another 60-plus years.”  

The project, spearheaded by Rotary West in partnership with the Caribbean Dyslexia Association, Project Uplift and international Rotary partners, is designed to strengthen literacy outcomes for primary and secondary school students diagnosed with dyslexia through early identification, targeted intervention and intensive teacher training.  

Rotary West president Andre Wharton reflected on the long-standing stigma faced by people with learning differences, noting that many capable individuals were historically misunderstood and left behind by traditional classroom systems.  

“For many years in our communities, we have called people ‘duncy’ and ‘retarded’,” he said. “We all know someone who couldn’t seem to grasp the words or numbers in school, no matter how long they tried. These people were our friends and our neighbours. They functioned normally, they were intelligent and articulate, but they just could not navigate the classroom.”  

He said the consequences were often lifelong. “Far too frequently, they were the objects of jokes, laughter and cruelty. Many were labelled educationally subnormal, and those labels ended up wounding them for life, shaping how they saw themselves and their place in the world.”  

Wharton explained that the Rotary Club of Barbados West successfully secured a Rotary International Global Grant of about $339 270 to fund the project, following months of preparation and consultation.  

“On August 12, 2025, at 2.41 p.m., that lovely email came through,” he recalled. “We received confirmation that we had been awarded US$168,462 from the Rotary Foundation.”  

Some 14 school principals had already expressed interest in the initiative after discussions with the Ministry of Educational Transformation, and the project is being rolled out in two phases, he said. The first involves structured literacy training for teachers through seven core online modules, which began in November 2025 and will conclude in June this year. The second phase is a practicum, where trained teachers work one-to-one with dyslexic students from their schools, under close supervision from specialists at the Caribbean Dyslexia Centre.  

“There will also be family support,” he added. “Parents and guardians will be better informed about the strategies being used, so they can provide additional support at home.”  

Rotary district governor Soraya Warner Gustave described the initiative as a legacy project that reflects Rotary’s commitment to education, inclusion and sustainable community impact.  

“This initiative stands as a powerful symbol of the Rotary Club of Barbados West’s ongoing dedication to supporting those who need it most,” she said. “It reflects the very best of who we are as Rotarians, people of action who identify real needs, apply thoughtful solutions and remain committed to meaningful outcomes.”  

She also underscored the importance of international collaboration, noting the role of the Rotary Foundation and overseas Rotary partners in bringing the project to fruition. “Through this partnership, the foundation has provided not only the funding, but also the framework and resources necessary to bring a project of this significance to life.”  

Blackman placed the project firmly within the government’s wider education reform agenda, stressing that a “one-size-fits-all” approach to learning can no longer define the Barbadian school system.  

“We all learn differently. We all study differently, and therefore we must not have a one-size-fits approach to educational development,” he said. “If we get this right as a country, we are allowing a potential Steve Jobs or Will Smith or some other great person to create a solution to a global problem.”  

He noted that literacy and numeracy remain central to the ministry’s priorities, recalling a commitment made in Parliament last August to ensure that all children can read by the age of seven. However, he emphasised that assessment and diagnosis must be treated as tools of empowerment, not labels of limitation.  

“Assessments must not just be a tick box,” he said. “There’s power in words, and oftentimes many of our children receive words that are not fit for purpose for their development, their confidence and their emotional well-being.”  

Blackman also urged parents to take advantage of the screening and support being offered. “If you’re going to give your child the best chance at global success, this is where you want to take your children. You must avail yourselves of this support.”  

The minister committed the Ministry of Educational Transformation to working closely with Rotary West and other partners to expand the programme, stressing the importance of monitoring and evaluation to measure impact over time.  

“What doesn’t get measured doesn’t get done,” he said. “This initiative is beyond the launch. It is about rolling up our sleeves and ensuring that we give our children the best possible chance.”  

The Rotary Club of Barbados West says the project is guided by the principles “Service Above Self” and “Stronger Together”, with a long-term vision of empowering learners, supporting educators and building inclusive communities across Barbados.