SHIRLEY CHISHOLM PROJECT an initiative launched by the Division of Culture in Primary Schools

The Division of Culture, Prime Minister’s Office has launched a series of educational initiatives for primary schools as part of the Shirley Chisholm Project, ‘Celebrating Shirley – 100 Years’, a Government-led programme to honour and celebrate the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm.

During the official launch at the Shirley Chisholm Primary School in Vauxhall, Christ Church on Tuesday, Rodney Grant, Chairman of the Shirley Chisholm Project,  explained that the activities include Primary Schools Heritage Tours and Visits and a National Library Service (NLS) Primary Schools Art Competition.

He said, “As we are all aware, Chisholm spent part of her early childhood here in Barbados and went on to make history as the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and to run for a Presidential nomination in that country. 

“She was a true champion for civil rights, gender equality and social justice and through these activities we aim to educate young people about her story and her remarkable achievements but, more importantly, we want to inspire them to pursue greatness.”

Grant explained that the NLS Primary School Art Competition is open to students from all primary schools on the island with exciting prizes for the winners, their art teachers and schools. 

The competition’s theme is ‘The Importance of Education to Character Development’ and students can submit their entries, of drawings or paintings depicting their interpretation of Chisholm’s primary school education in Barbados, via email to honourchisholm@nls.gov.bb no later than Independence Day, Saturday, November 30.

Giving details on the Heritage Tours and Visits organised by the Barbados National Register of Historic Places, Grant explained that students will participate in guided tours around Christ Church, highlighting locations of significance to Chisholm’s early life in Barbados.

“We will also visit various primary schools for interactive sessions and during both the tours and visits, students will receive information on Chisholm’s amazing career. Naturally we are starting with the students here at the Shirley Chisholm Primary and then we move onto the Christ Church Girls Primary, Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary and St. Silas Primary, among others,” he added.

Dr. Sheron Johnson, Senior Cultural Policy and Research Officer at the Division of Culture noted that the tours and visits aim to foster appreciation and understanding of Barbados’ rich cultural heritage.

She said, “By immersing young Barbadians in the historical significance of their surroundings, this initiative, which also supports the Ministry of Education’s Social Studies curriculum, also seeks to inspire a sense of pride and responsibility toward preserving Barbados’ history.”

Principal of the Shirley Chisholm Primary School, Donna Franklin, praised the initiative, stating, “Our students have been exposed to the life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm through storytelling, the sharing of materials and their Social Studies lessons. We welcome the tour because we believe it will enhance those learning experiences. 

“As a school, we teach our students that, just like Shirley Chisholm, they too can be catalysts for change and we embrace opportunities to teach them that they can become anything that they want to be. They can dream big, they can think big and they can achieve anything. Not just here, but globally as well.”

Barbados’ Independence Day, November 30, 2024 marks the centenary anniversary of Chisholm’s birth. (PR)

Three students from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) have been awarded the National Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

The winners – Raquan Bourne, Liam Griffith, and Nathaniel Waithe – each received scholarships worth BDS $1,100, from the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, during a recent presentation ceremony, at the SJPI.          

Scholarship winner, Nathaniel Waithe expressed his exuberance at being in the winners’ row, saying: “I am honoured to receive the generous support of the National Ozone-Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship.”

He emphasised that: “This scholarship not only eases my financial burden but also fuels my ambition to excel in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. With help from the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, I am inspired to make a meaningful impact on our environment.”                  

The National Ozone Depleting Substances Phase-Out Support Scholarship is intended to complement actions directed at achieving the Hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) phase-out targets, as defined in the National HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan. 

Since its inception in 2014, the Scholarship has provided essential funding for students pursuing careers in refrigeration engineering. The initiative includes tuition payment and a BDS $700 grant for tool purchases, in support of students and their educational pursuits. So far, over 30 students have benefitted from the Scholarship. 

The partnership, between the Ministry and SJPI, aims to enhance the quality of education in the RAC programme, providing the necessary equipment and resources, to prepare students for future challenges that may be encountered in the field. 

The scholarships, which are for second year students pursuing the Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, are funded annually by the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy. (PR/GIS)

Caption: From left to right – SJPI Principal, Ian Drakes; scholarship recipient Nathaniel Waithe; Deputy Principal, Brenda Osbourne; Acting Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Corey Lane; SJPI Chairman, Coreen Kennedy-Taitt-GTE; and scholarship recipients, Raquan Bourne and Liam Griffith, at the recent presentation ceremony, at the SJPI

The final signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT) and the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), Ireland, signals Government’s desire to formalise its commitment and reaffirm its vision of providing access to accreditation for medical education institutions.

Minister of State in the Ministry, Sandra Husbands, made this assertion yesterday at the virtual MOU signing, in the Ministry’s Media Resource Department Auditorium, Constitution Road, St. Michael. She stated that Government is committed to ensuring that the education provided in this country meets global standards.

“Today, this event marks a pivotal moment in the Barbados Government’s ongoing efforts to foster collaboration and to provide additional choices for accreditation to the medical education institutions operating here in Barbados.

“For this Ministry, the accreditation of medical schools is of utmost importance, since it will ultimately benefit our partners in education, stakeholders, and the communities we serve. This partnership will allow us to share best practices, resources, and expertise, ensuring that our accreditation processes are rigorous and relevant,” she said.

Ms. Husbands believes that the aim of the Government, in fostering this collaboration, is to create an environment that promotes educational excellence, professional development, and a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

She added that accreditation is not merely a stamp of approval, but it also signals quality and trust, and urged stakeholders to remember that this is just the beginning.

“Barbados’ commitment to excellence will guide our efforts as we build a lasting partnership focused on open communication, shared accountability, and mutual respect.  The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training looks forward to working with ACCM, as we continue to establish global standards for all medical institutions operating on our shores.”

The Minister also expressed gratitude to the teams in Barbados and Ireland who were involved in the preparatory work leading up to the culmination of the MOU signing. 

She commended them for their hard work and commitment to the process, and highlighted the contributions made by Deputy Permanent Secretary in METVT, Deborah Dowridge, the offices of the Solicitor General, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Barbados Accreditation Council, and the Ministry’s Tertiary Section.

“You have made this agreement possible, and I’m confident that it will lead to fruitful outcomes for all the parties involved. I look forward to witnessing the positive impacts coming from our collaboration,” she said.

ACCM, Ireland, was represented by Professor Hilary Sanfey.  Professor Sanfey echoed the sentiments of Minister Husbands and expressed her appreciation to Deputy Permanent Secretary Dowridge for her assistance and patience in assisting her organisation in navigating the process.

“As you know, ACCM is an independent non-profit organisation based in the Republic of Ireland, and we act on behalf of a number of governments, in relation to the accreditation of medical education programmes leading to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and in the majority of medical schools currently under accreditation by ACC (American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services).

“The student body is drawn predominantly from North America, where the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the recognised authority for the accreditation of medical education. Therefore, we have developed standards that are closely aligned with those of the LCME, and we have been granted recognition by the World Federation for Medical Education for a period of 10 years,” she explained.

Present for the virtual signing were representatives from METVT, ACCM, Barbados Accreditation Council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The first MOU signing took place in September of this year, and this was the final MOU signing for medical education purposes. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training(METVT), Sandra Husbands signing the final MOU, while Quality Assurance Officer with the Barbados Accreditation Council, Karen Collins (left) and Administrative Officer with the METVT, Tracey Squires-Clarke (centre), look on.