Education

MOU Signing Part Of Education Transformation

Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, sees the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Erdiston Teachers’ Training College (ETTC) and Columbia University (CU) as being part of government’s strategic step in education transformation.

Ms. McConney, who was speaking during the signing ceremony last Friday, at Ilaro Court, stated: “This powerful platform of cooperation between us, reflects the intention of our Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training … to be able to understand that this is an immense responsibility of building our people and putting the skills in place.

“We see our teachers, we see our educators, as driving forces in our education system, and if we want our children to learn well, we have to have teachers who can facilitate that learning. Without teachers, learning doesn’t happen at the optimal level…. Their continuous professional development and opportunities for them to grow must be a part of the way we do education in this country.”

She commended Prime Minister Mottley for being a champion for education. “Our Prime Minister has been a champion for education, seven years as a Minister of Education. She understands the sector; she understands people and she has been one of the people trying to push this very partnership, not only with Columbia University but with other first-class, world-class universities around the world. And our first thank you is to her because without leadership, the work we have to do in education transformation will not happen.”

Minister McConney added: “When it comes to teaching education and our responsibility for teacher education, we have recognised as a country that we cannot do it alone. It cannot be the government alone. It cannot be the teachers alone pushing their own professional development. We need to reach out regionally, locally, across the world and bring in the partners where the best of the best is, to be able to partner with us to help us build our capacity to do the best for our children.”

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, in her remarks, expressed that the MOU signalled a groundbreaking partnership between the ETTC and CU.

“This partnership is designed to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in teaching and leadership within Barbadian schools by leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions, to equip leaders and teachers with the knowledge, attitudes and skills that are required to meet the needs of students within our country.”

She continued: “This partnership also brings us one step closer to realising one of the pillars of education transformation, that which speaks to improving school leadership and teacher effectiveness. There is no doubt that principals and teachers play crucial roles in the development of positive school cultures that are pivotal for student success.”

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw expressed the hope that all leaders and teachers who access the programmes offered will utilise the tools given, not only to improve leadership and teaching practices but to be champions of equity and inclusion within and across their classrooms.

She further noted: “We want to see our students thinking critically, demonstrating social and emotional intelligence, [and] developing skills. We want to see our students hungry for learning, working cooperatively and communicating effectively with the knowledge that they can express themselves respectfully, despite their differences and be heard by their teachers and their principals. It is against this backdrop that the Ministry is proud to be associated with this partnership and will do its best to continue to facilitate this one and the others to come.” (PR/GIS)

Education

BCC-DSU Launches Second Cycle Of Bachelor’s Programme

Another 60 Barbadian students will get to study with the prestigious Delaware State University (DSU) through its ongoing partnership with the Barbados Community College (BCC). That’s because the programme is preparing to take in its second cohort of students this August.

Successful applicants will be able to earn a DSU-accredited bachelor’s degree in either Mathematics or Agricultural Science in four years or less of full-time study. Additionally, the programme will be funded and delivered at no cost to students, except for the minimal registration fees at the BCC.

Based on CSEC results, the students will be selected from among the graduating fifth-formers of public and private secondary schools across the island. For those awaiting results, the initial assessment will be based on their 4th and 5th form transcripts.

Current DSU student, 23-year-old Teana Hurley, has described her experience in the programme as “transformative and invaluable”. Ms. Hurley, who is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Agriculture, said, “I have had the privilege of forming meaningful friendships and connections with fellow students, both from Barbados and beyond, through my involvement in the programme. Interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds, such as Jamaica, has enriched my understanding of different cultures and perspectives”.

Regarding what she has learned thus far, the aspiring Minister of Agriculture has identified mastering time management, cultivating diligence, patience, and leadership as new life-enhancing skills.

She noted that she has been equipped to navigate challenges with resilience and determination and has emerged stronger and more capable with each obstacle overcome.

The BCC-DSU programme is delivered in a hybrid format, physically at BCC and online.

Entry Requirements

Who can apply?

Students up to the age of 35.
Current applicants for the BCC’s various science programmes
Current applicants for the lower 6th year
Students who have already completed the 1st year of the associate degree
Students who have already completed the lower 6th year
Students at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology
Interested persons from Agricultural organizations

For applicants possessing CSEC results

For Mathematics: A minimum requirement of five (5) CSEC subjects or the equivalent, including Mathematics and English.

For the Agriculture Programme: A minimum of four (4) CSEC subjects or the equivalent, including Mathematics, English, and a science subject.

How to apply

Click on the link https://forms.gle/amyopaWdy3DqbXnh6. Applications close on July 8th, 2024. (PR/GIS)

Education

Private Schools Come Out On Top

Private schools captured the top spots in this year’s Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE).

Finn Graham of St. Winifred’s School and Aryanna Bascombe of Providence Elementary School are the top performers in the BSSEE, also known as the Common Entrance Exam and the 11-Plus.

Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT), Kay McConney, made the announcement earlier today, during a press conference in the Media Resource Department at her Ministry.

The top boy is headed off to Queen’s College, while the top girl will enter Harrison College in September.

Finn and Aryanna received identical marks, gaining 99 in Mathematics, 96 in English, and an A in Composition, for an overall score of 246.81.

Leading up to the announcement, Minister McConney commended all those students who wrote the BSSEE this year, which saw students of 68 public primary schools and 26 private primary schools sitting the exam. She added there was a noted decrease in the number of students who took the Common Entrance Exam in 2023 when compared to this year; 252 more students wrote the exam this year.

The Education Minister further stated that there was also a decrease in the number of requests for special support during the examination, from 180 requests last year to 138 requests this year. She attributed the decline in requests for special support to the Ministry increasing the frequency and availability of appropriate testing for students, and continuing diagnostic testing for hearing and sight, which allowed it to identify challenges and provide early intervention for the students.

Ms. McConney said there was an increase in the number of students allocated to public secondary schools with 96.1 per cent sitting this year, compared to 95.4 per cent in 2023. Mathematics scores ranged from zero to 100, with five children scoring zero and nine students gaining 100 per cent, while 35 gained 100 per cent in 2023. However, in the English examination, the scores ranged from zero to 98, with one student scoring zero.

The Minister explained that the statistics overall indicate that there was no significant difference in the performance of students between 2023 and 2024. While she expressed concern at this finding, she said an in-depth analysis of the examination results was conducted by the Ministry. She stated consideration must be given to how best to optimise the potential of each student by going back to the basics of how children relate to what they are learning.

Ms. McConney also announced that the METVT will offer a free summer school programme to provide additional support to those students, primarily in Class Four, who have shown deficiencies in basic numeracy and literacy skills.

Meanwhile, when asked about the allocation of schools for the top students, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, indicated that this year, the focus was on highlighting all students, commending them for their hard work throughout the last year and their performance in the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination.

The Education Chief continued: “We wanted to highlight the fact also that the Ministry of Education is committed to providing an environment at every school that will be conducive to their learning and development, and this is the reason that we did not highlight particular schools this year.” (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, and Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw at a press conference to announce this year’s Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination results.

Education

Launch Of Barbados Construction Gateway Training Initiative Cycle 2

The Barbados Construction Gateway Training Initiative (BCGTI) Cycle 2 launch ceremony will take place on Friday, June 21, in the Barbados Community College’s auditorium, at “Eyrie”, Howell’s Cross Road, St. Michael, at 11:30 a.m.

The BCGTI Cycle 1 was launched in 2022 to provide a core group of trained male and female artisans, and to ensure a supply of skilled workers to fill various jobs, in response to a boom in the construction industry.

The construction-related training has a work attachment component, which is part of the learning experience and provides employment opportunities.

The BCGTI is coordinated by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, in collaboration with the Barbados Community College, the Barbados Vocational Training Board, the National Transformation Initiative, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council.

The national programme is scheduled to start on Monday, July 1, 2024, and runs for one year.