Black Immigrant Daily News

The future of the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE) also known as the 11-Plus or Common Entrance Exam could soon be sealed.

Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw made the revelation while speaking to the media at the Springer Memorial Secondary School today after meeting with students at the exam centre.

“I am well aware that the paper on the reform [of the education system] has been finally completed, and is before the Prime Minister for consideration and then on to Cabinet. So, I can expect that those decisions will be made very shortly,” she disclosed.

The former Minister of Education, detailed that the Mia Mottley-led administration has made efforts to gradually reform the education system, with the introduction of robotics, and the widening of the school curriculum to include technical and vocational skills.

“We have been talking with the principals trying to get them to understand that we have to create specialist institutions. Looking at what their strengths and weaknesses are so that children and parents start to make decisions on which school to go to. Not on the basis of which grandparent or parent went to school there but they start to make decisions based on the fact that they have an interest and they have a skill in a particular area or they are an academic in a particular area. So once that process has started and it is ongoing, I believe that we will get to the point that there is greater acceptance in relation to the abolition of the Common Entrance in due course.”

She acknowledged that though the groundwork has been done, changing the mindset of Barbadians will take some time. The Deputy Prime Minister voiced that the transformation will not occur instantly.

“People feel very dear and near to the Common Entrance Examination. It is what we all have grown accustomed to and in order to make that transition, you have to change mindsets you have to improve the schools. We had to put in place the Director of Educational Reform to work with the various institutions [and] educators in order for us to make that transition so I would say it is not an overnight process,” she remarked.

She added that Education Minister Kay McConney will give the announcement on the abolition of the Common Entrance in due course.

“The pandemic really set us back in terms of our conversation with the public but that didn’t mean that behind the scenes the work was not going on to position ourselves to be able to make that transformation.

“I believe that at the appropriate time the current minister will make the announcement in relation to the final date for the Common Entrance but until then I think we just have to reform and transition education generally in Barbados,” said Bradshaw.

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Much like the tranquil atmosphere throughout the Princess Margaret Secondary School, parents of 11-Plus students were calm and confident of their children’s success.

Five St Philip schools – Bayley’s Primary, Hilda Skeene Primary, Reynold Weekes Primary, St Martin’s Mangrove Primary and St Catherine’s Primary – sat the Barbados Secondary. School Entrance Examination (BSSEE) at the Six Roads exam centre.

After parting ways with their children, some parents and guardians opted to linger outside the school’s premises or patronise neighbouring businesses until the exam was finished.

One mother told Loop News that she was not concerned about her son’s performance as his preparations leading up to the exam went well.

“It wasn’t that difficult, it was just like pushing him to really read more, do more because he would need it and I think it would all pay off, I think that he will do well today,” she explained.

She professed that although her son, who is a Bayley’s Primary School student, was challenged by the online format, his performance throughout the school year was beyond satisfactory.

“Honestly, [COVID-19] was a setback but to me, he has strived in the online setting because it required parents to be there more to see where their children are weak and try to help them in that area. That really helped me to see where he was lacking and that is how I kind of worked with him from there because it was done in a way that you could hear the teachers, you knew what they were teaching, you know the style they were teaching so it was just for you as a parent to reinforce and get the children to do their work.”

As she waited on the outskirts of the Princess Margaret Secondary School, the parent of a Reynold Weekes Primary twin, also believed that her children’s hard work will pay off.

“My twins are usually very focused, they put in the work so it was just a matter of spending the time and guiding them through the process.”

The mother contended that although the online forum was not challenging for her household, she still preferred the face-to-face teaching method.

“To be honest the online forum was not as much of a challenge for us because the children were very focused and dedicated and by they have each other, it was kind of a classroom setting anyway so they can work together side by side. So for me, I had a pretty good experience but I do prefer the face-to-face.”

She added: “Everybody is struggling at this point but in terms of the fact that they were doing home school you didn’t have to buy as many uniforms as you did so you just looked to see well I only need a shirt and pants versus having five and then the books. You could have carried on, so it wasn’t too bad in terms of expense. We drive to come up the road and the gas prices gone up but you have to make it work. So you just make slight adjustments but it is what it is.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

For the first time ever, all sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) have filed their statutory declarations with the Integrity Commission, as required by law, during the reporting period under review.

The revelation was made by the Commission’s Chairman, Retired Justice Seymour Panton, in the Commission’s Annual Report for 2021-2022, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Panton, in the chairman’s remarks, noted that the Commission has been giving serious attention to the statutory declarations of assets and liabilities of public officials.

He was pleased that all 63 MPs had complied with the law, stating that “in this regard, Parliament is setting a good example for other public officials to follow”.

“The Commission is also pleased that there has been a significant increase in the number of public officials who have been complying with the requirement to file. Those who are delinquent are urged to comply as delinquents can expect prosecution,” the chairman added.

Continuing, he said: “All declarants are expected to make full and truthful declarations and should take note that the Information and Complaints and Investigation Divisions of the Commission are committed to a careful and probing examination of declarations. The Commission expects full declarations of bank accounts, and declarants are reminded that the law provides for significant fines and imprisonment.”

The public release of the Commission’s annual report comes on the same day that the former Member of Parliament for Northern Clarendon, the People’s National Party’s Horace Dalley, was fined $80,000 for failing to file his statutory declarations under the Integrity Commission Act. He was accused of failing to file his statutory declaration for the period 2020-2021.

Meanwhile, Panton again stated that he was very concerned that Parliament has so far not addressed the Commission’s repeated requests for amendments to be made to sections 53 and 56 of the Integrity Commission Act, which dictate that the Commission must not communicate to the public even the mere fact that an investigation is, or is not taking place.

“The Commission is firmly of the view that this is a serious impediment to good governance,” he said.

He argued that given the mandate of the Commission, the right to communicate ought to be concomitant.

“It is clearly ridiculous that whereas the police, quite rightly, can say that they are investigating a criminal matter, the Integrity Commission is not allowed to say it is, or is not, investigating a matter that does not involve criminality,” he said.

The chairman added: “The Commission will, therefore, continue to impress on Parliament the need to make the necessary amendments. And I wish at the same time to assure the public that every allegation or complaint made to the Commission is treated seriously and dealt with in confidence. I encourage public officials and members of the public to continue to inform the Commission of any act or transaction that they think may indicate corrupt behaviour by a public official, wherever such official may be located, at home or abroad.”

Panton said it is to be noted that the term “public official” means “any person holding an executive, an administrative or a judicial office, or a parliamentarian, whether appointed or elected, whether permanent or temporary, or whether paid or unpaid; any other person who is employed to a public body; and any member of the security forces”.

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