Parents demand answers over move

The recent transfer of a Class 4 teacher from the Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School has left several parents fuming.

The move comes as parents, students and teachers await clear indication of a new date for the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE), which was initially due to take place in early May.

However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw had postponed the exam, which is better known as the 11-Plus or Common Entrance, to late June, but later said that date would also have to be reviewed.

Parents of class 4 pupils of the Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School said they were “bewildered” at a move by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, to transfer that class teacher, Karen Bascombe, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parents told Barbados TODAY they were also concerned about growing  uncertainty over this year’s Common Entrance exam.

Tanya Goddard, administrator of a WhatsApp group chat for parents of children in class 4W, said they were informed by the class teacher via email that she had been transferred to a Bridgetown primary school with immediate effect.

Goddard said the parents had a subsequent online meeting with Wilkie Cumberbatch Principal Jennifer Phillips, who told them that the school’s management team had asked the ministry to delay the transfer until the beginning of the next school year.

“We were told by the principal at that meeting that the request was denied and she told parents that the school would do everything it could to minimise any further disruption for the children of the class,” said Goddard.

The parent added that she had sent a letter to the school, copied to the Ministry of Education, outlining the parents’ concerns, and that other parents have also sent letters to the Minister of Education and the ministry expressing concern “but we have received no response whatsoever”.

Another parent, Kelly Murrell, said she was curious about why the transfer took place at this time.

“Why as these children struggle to finish their preparation for the upcoming Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination and are already stressed, the ministry must make this change? Why now when they have been thrust into an unchartered situation where their learning style, technique and way of schooling have been severely altered causing more uncertainty; now that the school start dates are still up in the air, that the ministry insists this transfer must happen?”, she questioned.

“We understand that the ministry, as an employer, is free to make certain decisions but certainly there must be greater consideration for the children at this time. Ms Bascombe has been teaching this group since Class 3. Certainly, there could have been some discussion or dialogue with the parents given the extenuating circumstances. The ministry at least owes us an explanation,” said Murrell.

Goddard stated that while they hoped for a change in the decision from the ministry, the parents appreciated the principal’s assurance that the school would work to do what was necessary to minimise the impact on the children’s preparation for the 11-Plus exam.

She insisted, however, that the Ministry of Education should “do better” and at least reconsider the transfer until the start of the new school year.

Efforts to reach acting Prime Minister Santa Bradshaw who is also the country’s Minister of Education were unsuccessful.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb