Education

National Financial Literacy Programme To Be Rolled Out In Schools January 29

Facilitators for the Ministry of Energy and Business’ National Financial Literacy Expansion Programme have been chosen, and the pilot phase of the new initiative will be launched on January 29.

This disclosure has come from the National Coordinator of the Ministry’s financial literacy initiative, David Simpson, who said the 15 facilitators recently underwent an orientation session, and they are well equipped and eager to get into the classrooms in various primary and secondary schools.

“This pilot will target Second Form students in seven secondary schools and Class Two children in six primary schools, and once we see its outcome, then we will roll it out in more schools.

“We also have a community component, which is currently being finalised. The facilitators will also be working with those households in the community, so it is a continuous process and not one time. We are considering bringing some pop-up events to each community, regardless of the ones we are targeting in the pilot, so we can continue that interaction with the public,” Mr. Simpson stated.

The financial literacy consultant explained that the programme targets every citizen and resident, and its overall purpose is to improve their ability to manage money, and create and generate wealth for their families now and in the future.

“The aim is to improve Barbadians’ relationship with money and this spans earning it, using it, saving it, and investing it. We realised from our research and interactions, over the past three and a half years, that while a lot of the things we engage in on a daily basis use or generate money, our relationship with it is not as sound as it should be….

“We cannot ignore adults, but to seal what we want to do and see the future benefits; we need to get into the schools and start there. We want this to be a part of their lifestyle, so these are dedicated sessions on financial literacy. The hope is that we will be able to tie the schools’ programme to the community, and we will send correspondence to the parents outlining the programme, and encouraging them to be a part of it,” he said.

National Coordinator of the Ministry’s financial literacy initiative, David Simpson (left) and
Programme Coordinator for the schools’ component, Corey Worrell, listening attentively to Lynda Woolford-Richards as she discusses the financial literacy workbooks for primary and secondary schools.

Mr. Simpson pointed out that interactive workbooks outlining the topics to be addressed were developed for the primary and secondary school students, and would be utilised. During the sessions, some of the areas to be addressed are Money Mindset; Earning Income; Spending (buying on budget); Saving; Borrowing and Lending; Managing Risks; and Cultivating Contentment.

The instructional designer of the workbooks, Lynda Woolford-Richards, explained that they were age appropriate. She said the primary school children would have different learning activities, so the concepts would be introductory, while the secondary school children would have those preliminary concepts, and then build a bit more on them.

“The younger children can follow their parents in how they manage their finances, so they can learn, while the secondary school children are more engaged on doing it on their own, while collaborating with their parents.

“Their responses are more practical because they may have more access to finances and they have the ability to manage their finances, so the level of critical thinking and creativity is going to be different for different ages,” Mrs. Woolford-Richards stated.

She encouraged those parents whose children are involved in the pilot project to be a part of the process, and to get involved in the challenges in the workbooks.

Programme Coordinator for the schools’ component, Corey Worrell, shared that the principals involved in the pilot phase are all excited about the programme, which he described as flexible. Mr. Worrell added that he was looking forward to its roll out. (PR/GIS)

Facilitators for the Ministry of Energy and Business’ National Financial Literacy Expansion Programme at a recent orientation session

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.