Ministry to address continuous assessment concerns Friday

The Ministry of Education Transformation will on Friday outline its way forward on continuous assessment and secondary school placement, amid mounting concerns from parents over proposed changes set to begin in the new school year.
The announcement comes as a petition opposing the introduction of continuous assessment at the Class 3 level has attracted nearly 200 signatures, with parents describing the proposed changes as “untested” and “rushed” and demanding answers from education officials.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry acknowledged concerns raised by parents, teachers and principals and said the Minister of Education Transformation would provide a “comprehensive update” on August 14.
The statement is expected to address the Ministry’s approach to assessment and learning, secondary school placement and the strengthening of schools.
“As part of its ongoing work on education transformation, the Ministry of Education Transformation has listened to the concerns raised by parents, teachers and principals regarding the proposed introduction of continuous assessment at the Class 3 Level,” the Ministry said.
It added: “We firmly believe that the direction of education transformation for Barbados is the right one, however we are also fully seized of the fact that the implementation must be right as well.”
The Ministry said Friday’s statement would set out its “full approach and roadmap for the way forward”.
The response follows concerns raised in the petition ahead of the September school term.
“September 2026 marks the start of a new educational era in Barbados. This change introduced by the MOE is untested, rushed and threatens the educational and social fabric of our country,” the petition states.
“We parents want answers and action. Our children and wards deserve every opportunity to succeed. Our voices must be heard.”
The Ministry said it remained committed to improving how students are assessed and supported throughout their education, while thanking parents, teachers, principals and other stakeholders for their engagement in the education transformation process.