School designs to drive education transformation

The cornerstone for the government’s planned educational change will be built on students having access to modern, environmentally-friendly school buildings.

This was the point made by Minister of Education, Kay McConney, as she addressed attendees of Monday’s award ceremony for the recently-concluded Modern School Infrastructure Design Competition .

During the ceremony at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, the three finalists in the primary, secondary, nursery and special needs categories received awards for their contribution to the process of designing modern schools which will be used as a blueprint for future school plants.

McConney congratulated the finalists, noting that “environment influences outcomes”, and a shift to contemporary and innovative designs for schools are required to better serve the needs of children.

“As we shift from traditional approaches and instructional approaches towards more modern approaches that meet our children how they learn, and that greet our teachers with cutting-edge instructional methods, our entire system from infrastructure to curriculum must be made ready to empower 21st century education.”

She stressed that the designs from the finalists are “more than bricks and mortar”, adding “they are about transforming spaces into dynamic hubs of collaboration, of creativity and of innovation. Our redesigned spaces in Barbados will be flexible and adaptable, promoting teamwork and critical thinking. Classrooms will support different group configurations, learning styles and project-based learning.

“Collaborative areas will encourage students to brainstorm ideas, to solve problems together and to unleash their future potential as future leaders and innovators,” she said.

The education minister also stated that sustainability within future structures will also be key.

“Resilience and sustainability both underpin our vision for modern school infrastructure, keeping in mind that we as a country must face down challenges of the climate crisis which is very real. We must face down challenges of cleaner energy sources which will serve our best interest including that of our environment.

“Our modern school buildings will incorporate eco-friendly designs and renewable energy sources, teaching our students the importance of environmental stewardship. By embracing sustainable practices, we not only reduce our carbon footprint, but also instil values that will resonate throughout the lives of our children.”

Minister McConney also noted that better learning environments will also better prepare students for the new world of technology and innovation that they will be entering.

The three finalists in each category are: Corey Evelyn, Ruth Durant-Sobers and Christopher Barnett for nursery; Maurice Clarke, Alana Brooks and Ruth Durant-Sobers for primary; Kevin Browne, lan Best and Julia Kirton for secondary, and Julia Kirton, Frederick Johnson and Corey Evelyn for special needs.