This year a mere six primary schools and just one secondary school competed in the Schools’ Literacy Challenge, and at least one educator is disappointed that more schools did not view this as important.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY after the prize-giving ceremony this morning at the Ministry of Education in the Elsie Payne Complex, education officer with responsibility for literacy Christina Morris said the ministry had done all it could to make schools and students aware of the competition and its significance –– but still the response was measly.

Education Officer Christina Morris.

Morris said the challenge was developed from the ministry’s aim to keep literacy at the forefront and to engage students at all levels of the system to promote literacy.

In spite of the low turnout she was still hopeful that as news of the quality writings entered this year spread, more schools would be enticed to enter their children in 2015.

“Writing is an art, a craft which needs to be nourished over time, so that it can develop and flourish. If we are to foster [a] culture of writing and the love for writing, we must inculcate this art in our children from an early age. We hope that this competition is seen as more than just another competition.

“This kind of activity is awareness building, provide additional opportunities for our students to showcase their work and their talent . . . before an audience; and our children need that practice,” Morris said.

“We can’t legislate everything. We can’t make everything compulsory. We can only appeal to our teachers and encourage them to use these kinds of activities within the classrooms and within the school environment,” she added while stressing that the Ministry of Education would likewise continue to play its part and also promote such best practices.

It was comforting to note, however, that the quality of stories entered this year was very good, Morris said. But she added that there were some areas which they felt needed some work and she would convey this to the teachers.

In the lower junior category (7–9 years), first place went to Kiara Grazette of St Catherine’s Primary school. Rhea Clarke, also from St Catherine’s Primary school, was second.

In the upper juniors (9–11 years), Shania Williams from St Alban’s Primary was first. Second place went to Bethany Sewitt of Belmont Primary; and tied for third place were the Class 3 of Society Primary and Zaria Herbert of Belmont Primary. Fifth place went to Vasie Boyce of St Alban’s Primary.

In the secondary level, Maxamillion Hurdle in the lower division and Saqen Seally in the upper division were the winners. Both students represented the Princess Margaret Secondary School.

The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus has issued the new tuition fees to be paid by Barbadian students from September.

In a statement, sent out to students via email today, prospective and continuing Barbadian students of the institution were reminded that they would be responsible for the full payment of the tuition fees associated with their programme of study from the 2014/2015 academic year, commencing in August 2014.

“The quanta of tuition fees outlined below were for the 2013/2014 academic year and should be used as a guide to aid you in planning for the financing of your studies. Please note that these fees may be subject to change for the 2014/2015 academic year,” it said.

The fees for full-time students studying law will be $9,958, for those pursuing humanities and education the total will be $6,675, medical sciences $17,668, while science and technology students will pay $6,675. The total costs are inclusive of amenities fees, guild fees and ID card fee [new students], the email said.

Meanwhile, tuition fees for part-time graduate students undertaking humanities and education, science & technology and social sciences will be $2,812.50. However, law students are expected to pay $4,404 and the medical fee for graduate students has not been disclosed. For undergraduate students pursuing the same disciplines it will be $251, $393 and $8,309, respectively.

Part-time students are required to pay the tuition fees outlined in addition to the amenities, guild and ID card fees where applicable.

The statement said that the tuition fees for undergraduate part-time students would be determined by the number of credits for which the student was registered.

“First time students are reminded that they may be required to pay an additional $500 for the foundation English course if they have not gained a Grade 1 at the CSE level or been successful in the university entrance exam,” the statement said.

Students attending the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies should contribute something to their education.

Independent Senator and educator Alwin Adams made known his position today in the Senate while speaking on the Appropriation Bill 2014-2015.

Presenting his argument for why students should share the cost of their university education, the former principal of Coleridge and Parry said: “I want to say to them that when they hear what I say, they may be even more disappointed, because I am actually saying to them that I believe wholeheartedly they should contribute something to their education. I am in favour of tuition fees. I am saying that because you cannot expect to get something for nothing.

“I believe that they may be reluctant to pay tuition fees because they have come to see free education as part of human rights and even a social entitlement that they should just have. While that might have been so in the past, it certainly is not the case now. In life there was never anything free.

“In 1963, I was a young teacher at St Leonards’ when the university was opened at the Bridgetown Harbour. There were no buildings as such, and there were few students, probably less than 50. It was possible at that time to meet the cost. We are like Britain and most of the things they would have done we did.

“It was around 1963 that the British had a commission which reported that they expand university education. The chairman of that commission actually said that the expansion was possible because there was a lot of wastage of talent in the United Kingdom where at the time less than three per cent of the population was attending university thereby affecting economic growth and said that the cost could be covered
by taxation,” Adams added.

Adams told fellow senators that it must not be forgotten that the commissioner had told the British that a time would come when the students would have to pay some of the cost of their education from loans and grants.

“This is very significant. In the United Kingdom, the number of polytechnics and universities grew. In the UK, I not only got free secondary education but a living grant which was about the same amount of money I would have got if I was working.

“The number of universities in England expanded and there was an expansion of the university here in Barbados. It was interesting that by 1995, a commission was actually set up in Britain to look into the burgeoning cost of university education. The commission recommended that fees should be paid for education,” Adams said.

The Independent senator recalled that it was a Labour Party government that had introduced fees gradually since university education was not compulsory and therefore recipients should make a contribution.

Adams further recalled that a government fund was established to assist students, but they were not asked to repay any funds until they entered the workforce.

A seven-day ultimatum has been issued by the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) to the management of the Barbados Community College (BCC) to meet with it to discuss the impending retrenchment of workers or face a “shutdown”.

The warning was issued today by the general secretary of the NUPW, Dennis Clarke, following a meeting with BCC staff to discuss the matter, as well as the continuous late payment of their wages and salaries.

The trade unionist tells Barbados TODAY they have informed principal Gladstone Best that late payment would “no longer be tolerated” and that the NUPW intends to submit a written request for a meeting next week for talks on a retrenchment package for those who would be affected.

“If he does not meet with us, if he does not let us know by Wednesday when we’re going to meet then we’re going to close the College down because we cannot allow or continue to allow Government departments to treat workers as though they’re cattles or less than a human being,” Clarke cautioned.

“We intend to take some form of action if we don’t hear something by Wednesday next week.”

Overall, 3,000 Government workers are due to be sent home by the end of this month. Up to February, that number stood at 1,800 and since then Government has been steadily terminating employees in a bid to reach its stated target.

However, the NUPW general secretary said all effort was being made to avoid a repeat of the situation at the Drainage Division where workers were given no notice before they were sent packing.

“Up to now the principal can’t tell us anything, neither can the chairman of the board tell us anything. We do not want what happened at drainage to happen here at the Community College where workers turn up to work today and then they get a letter saying to them that their services are no longer needed,” he said.

“They have up to 16, 16, ten, 11 years service here at the college and they’re told that they’re still temporary and if you reflect on what happened at National Housing, those were the ones sent off because they were temporary.

“We do not want to see that attempted up here,” Clarke added.

The Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is in danger of becoming a majority non-Barbadian institution by September, owing to a collapse of the Barbadian student population.

President of the Students’ Guild, Damani Parris, warned today that Government’s policy to make all Barbadian students – current and prospective – start paying their full tuition fee from August, had already resulted in a 40 per cent drop in applications across the board this year.

Speaking during a news conference, Parris also expressed fears that there could be a disappearance of some disciplines currently taught at the campus and a loss of global accreditation of degrees at the UWI, as he disclosed that undergraduate numbers for the various faculties had dropped drastically.

“For the Faculty of Humanities and Education, there has been a reduction in some 179 student applications, representing about 48.1 per cent of the applications for that faculty, down from the year 2013. A further reduction for Law occurred of 164 applications, down 26.9 per cent from 2013 numbers,” he said.

“We experienced falls of 85 persons in the very new Faculty of Medical Sciences, which has seen a reduction of 16.8 per cent from 2013 numbers. Science and technology suffered a fall of 106 applications, down 18.1 per cent from 2013 numbers,” the guild president said.

He noted that social sciences, the largest faculty on campus, saw a decline of 783 applications or 41.6 per cent. The total number of applications received was 2,640, a drop of 1,313 or a 33.3 per cent falloff.

“From the 3,957 applications we would have received the previous year, statistics indicate that before the articulation of this policy, the [number of] students who actually accepted positions at the university after making applications was roughly about 60 per cent. This means that 60 per cent of those total persons who would have applied took up their positions at the Cave Hill Campus upon becoming accepted,” explained Parris.

“If we are to look at this based on this year’s numbers, that 60 per cent of applications would have represented 2,374 actual admissions to the student body. If we are to look at it based on this year’s numbers, that 2,640 was actually reduced to a mere 1,584 actual students . . . if we remove the impact that would actually be made by the education policy,” the students’ spokesman declared.

Parris said the statistics represented new entry students and did not account for those currently enrolled.

“Of course, there is no way of predicting how many of these students would actually return, but it is almost certain, that a decline by a significant percentage would actually occur, meaning that the University would experience a decline across the board, both for new and continuing students.”

His view is that this state of affairs would result in the Cave Hill Campus becoming a majority non-Barbadian institution in the September semester. Parris also revealed that the total number of graduate students had fallen by 43.1 per cent, which he attributed to the Government’s withdrawal of the majority of scholarship support that would have been given in this area.

He feared, too, that a number of disciplines would disappear by the next term and that the lack of funding to boost development, could cause the campus to lose its global accreditation of degrees.

Parris warned that the student body had not taken any options from off the table, pointing out that injunctions and protests were being considered as possible methods to force Government’s hands on the matter.
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Government has defended the amount of money it spends on the various programmes in schools.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education Senator Harcourt Husbands said the island’s schools were in need of more support services and therefore the Government programmes were necessary. He made the observation earlier this week as he spoke on the Appropriation Bill 2014.

Husbands said, based on his personal account of what was taking place in schools across the island, there was need for more technical and professional emotional support and therefore the various programmes implemented were critical.

Husbands said based on information from officials in Student Services during his visits to some schools, they had noticed “an increase in such things among some of the students . . . in self-cutting”. Describing other deviant behaviours he said were related to him during his visits, Husbands said it was necessary that the state initiated solutions “to deal with these challenges”, and hence a number of Government programmes.

“I am saying to Barbadians that when they hear what is being spent in these Estimates on education, part of it goes, yes, to the University [of the West Indies] debt and the School Meals Department, and so on. But a significant part of it goes to perform these vital functions,” he said.

“What I am saying is that we have all of these challenges with the young people, but the Ministry of Education, the Government of Barbados are cognizant of these challenges, and we have put in place a series of programmes, whether it is WorldSkills, whether it is A Ganar [Spanish for to earn], whether it is the Schools’ Positive Behaviour Management Programme or Skills For The Future, that we are convinced will assist us greatly in tackling these challenges that we face,” added Husbands.

He said, however, there was need for residents and private sector involvement in tackling the challenges facing the island’s children.

“It is in your interest, it is in my interest. It is in the Opposition’s interest, it is in the business community’s interest; because if we don’t find a way to assist these young people we are not going to be able to sleep at night. So it is our business,” said Husbands.

Catastrophic!

That is how principal Sir Hilary Beckles is describing the state of affairs at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, two days after the president of the Students Guild, Damani Parris, reported a 40 per cent decline in student applications for this year, as a result of Government’s decision to make all Barbadian students start paying full tuition fees from August.

Sir Hilary disclosed that the Guild president himself had told him he would have to drop out this year because he could not find the $7,000 needed to continue.

Sir Hilary is also suggesting that the fall-off is worse than what the president announced.

He said, it was more like 60 per cent. But what has him even more worried is the latest data that indicated a 20 per cent drop in students coming to Cave Hill from the Caribbean to study.

“Now this is catastrophic. We do not know how to explain that. We have done some surveys. I think the conversation
in Barbados has turned off a lot of students in the Caribbean. I think during the 50th anniversary also, there was a fair amount of unreasonable, I think erroneous, and, in some instances, damaging commentary on the Cave Hill Campus that has affected our prestige,” stated the principal during last night’s People’s Business television show.

“There is no doubt that in the last year or so we’ve had significant damage done to our prestige, and this has impacted, not only the Caribbean applications to Cave Hill, but the international applications to Cave Hill. So in a sense, there have been multiple things happeniing simultaneously; basically, the introduction of fees,” added the campus head.

He said, while it was not for him to criticize the Government’s policy on the fee structure, the UWI here was facing a crisis.

Sir Hilary, who is also UWI pro-vice chancellor, was of the opinion that existing students who felt the fees should not have been imposed on them had a reasonable argument and they should take it up with the Government.

“We are also getting some very disturbing information that there might very well be a significant drop of students who are already in the system, not being able to raise [between $6,000 and $20,000 per student per year].”

Sir Hilary referred to a case in which a father and his two children now studying at the campus were trying to decide which two of them would drop out due to the fee imposition.

“You would have two kids in the system at the same time and they would now have to find, let’s say, $15,000 for the two of them; and if one is doing law, you are looking at $20,000 for two kids at the same time. So those are some of the problems that we are going to be expecting, and already there are indications that many of the students who are currently in the system will be dropping out,” cautioned the principal, who said he had presented all of this information to Minister of Education Ronald Jones.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

Since the Reading Programme was introduced at the Springer Memorial Secondary School nearly three years ago, the participating students have gone through almost 2,500 books. Additionally, the effects of the increased reading have not gone unnoticed.

Samantha Greene the top reader accepting her award from SOL Caribbean Ltd representative Gina Cummins.

It is safe to say this programme has had a positive impact on several aspects of the participants’ lives as many have gone on to be top students in whatever they have pursued.

This morning, as 23 new entrants who have read a combined total of 684 books were rewarded for their dedication to the project, coordinator and third-year year head Francis Thompson implored them to never stop reading.

Speaking to the girls this morning at the school in Government Hill, St Michael, Thompson told the awardees that as they graduated from this programme they needed to note that it was just the first stop in their journey to success, and that the journey continues.

“Remember, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Hence, you can ill afford to cease reading. So go on in confidence knowing that you have laid a solid foundation; but remember a foundation alone is not a completed work. Never be satisfied, ladies,” Thompson said.

This programme is reserved for third form students. This year they were introduced to writing, which involved compositions in poems, short stories, book reports and plays. Thompson said there were entrants in all sections and he believed that all the goals which were set for the programme were achieved. Unfortunately, however, it proved to be a challenge getting students to read the classics –– whether they be West Indian or international.

To remedy this, the school has already begun to brainstorm on how the next group of students may be so motivated.

Also speaking to the students today was radio personality Gaynelle Marshall, who too encouraged them to make books their friends. She advised them that reading could only improve their lives and give them an advantage on those who did not.

More photos available within our digital ePaper at http://epaper.barbadostoday.bb.

It is generally felt that students at The Lester Vaughan School are not taking their studies seriously and too many parents seem to be
of like mind.

According to Sonja Goodridge, acting principal of the school, some parents appeared to be more interested in their child’s brand name bag and shoes than in their term reports, which are sometimes left in the office unclaimed.

She said that sadly, some parents were more concerned about a child not bringing home their cellular phone than they were about the absence of a report.

Goodridge made these charges as she delivered the principal’s report at the St Thomas institution’s awards ceremony this morning where she stressed that it was essential that the school implemented a zero tolerance for failure to complete and/or submit homework or other assignments.

On that note, she said the school must continue to find ways to further engage and involve parents in the critical aspect of education and to convince them that homework was important.

“Research has shown that direct parent involvement in and support of a child’s school experiences play an important role in that child’s academic success. Conversely, when parents are not involved, their children receive lower grades, are more likely to drop out, and have poorer homework habits,” she explained.

The principal told the students that it was up to them to change their negative attitudes to some subjects as well as to homework and to reading. She urged them to put pressure on their peers who thought that everything “is a joke” and also encouraged them not to condone those students who caused teachers to waste time in the classroom because of their distractive actions.

“Let them know that they are wasting time too and that you do not appreciate it. It is therefore time to remind all of you that school work should be taken seriously at all times. The message was sent in the last academic year when a record number of fourth year students were asked to repeat the year. Students at every year group take heed. Listen very carefully. Should you not reach the standard we set you will be asked to repeat so that you can master the competencies at one level before proceeding to the next,” she said.

She commended some classes that performed well because they upheld high ideals and suggested that it was time those students not giving their best were seen to be a minority.

“Remember everybody has a talent, find yours and nurture it as you excel. Change your thinking [and] you can achieve anything you put your mind to.”

As it relates to the school’s academic performance, the principal reported that internal examination results showed some improvement overall with the best results being recorded in the junior school and decreasing as students progressed through school. As for external results, the overall pass rate of 56.5 per cent at the Caribbean Examination Council Certificates level showed some improvement over the school’s worst ever results recorded in 2012.

In delivering the feature address, Justin Catlin, former student of that school and National Hockey Player, told the students that they can achieve greatness by not measuring themselves against others, understanding that they were in control, letting common sense and intelligence prevail, trusting in God and focusing on personal growth.

Parents are one of the biggest problems facing education today, says Alleyne School principal Julia Beckles.

Addressing Alleyne’s Annual Speech Day yesterday in the school’s auditorium at Belleplaine in St Andrew, Beckles said the issue educators faced was the undermining influence of parents and guardians on students.

“We will continue to struggle to build a high performance culture in schools until parents and guardians return to valuing education,” she said, while stressing that the Alleyne School would continue to devise methods to assist parents.

For the academic year 2012–2013, the rural school recorded significant improvements. The overall school’s percentage pass mark was 84 per cent, an improvement over the year 2011–2012 when it stood at 78 per cent.

Excellent results were recorded in agricultural science, EDPM, food and nutrition, home management, history, social studies, Spanish, social studies, theatre arts and woods, in which students attained 100 per cent passes.

Outstanding results were also reported in English A, English B, information technology, integrated science and principles of business.

In most of the other subjects, commendable performances were registered. Beckles applauded her staff for the achievements made with the students. Nevertheless, she noted that there was still much work to be done so as to avoid any students falling through the cracks.

“In reviewing most organizations one views the bottomline as the measure of financial health. In schools the results at CSEC are considered the school’s bottomline,” the principal said.

“If this measure is applied, then the Alleyne School will be deemed a healthy organization. However, in the midst of our celebrations we are not oblivious to the reality that there are many students who are not represented by this 84 per cent.

“We are concerned that oft-times we begin with large numbers of students who do not make the journey to CSEC. We are also concerned about those who even after being given a second chance, in the fourth year are unable to write the exams.

“As a team we desire that more of our children experience this sense of achievement. In light of this, we need to revisit the options which our students make at the fourth year as well as implement some new initiatives with a bid to improving  our numbers at CSEC while maintaining our high grade profile,” she added.

This year there was also more to shout about in terms of the boys. There was a noticeable increase in the number of them who made the honour roll, and Beckles said she looked forward to this becoming the norm in the future.

Of those males, Shemar Yearwood was the Most Outstanding Student. He attained six Grade 1 passes and three Grade 3s. He was also declared the Most Disciplined And Exemplary Student and won the Stoute-Mapp Shield For Leadership and the Canadian Alumni Scholarship, among a host of other prizes. Other top students were Shanice Connell, who received six Grade 2 passes and two Grade 3s. She was awarded the Gwendolyn Griffth–Robinson Shield For Helpfulness and the Mona Haynes Memorial Prize For Honest Endeavour.

Katelyn Bryan was awarded for her outstanding achievements by making the Principal’s Honour Roll.

One of the top performers, Shanice Connell receiving her prizes from former student Chrystal Cummins–Beckles.

Top cricketer, Javere Dowridge.

kimberleycummins@barbadostoday.bb

It was about past years and ways of doing things yesterday at the All Saints Nursery School in St Peter. The tots there went way back in time as they climaxed the term’s focus on Transportation And People under this year’s theme My Culture, My Heritage, The Way We Were.

It was fun and more fun as family, friends and neighbours of the school gathered, cheering on the little ones in their depictions of old-time transportation and old-time people. They were styled –– among other depictions of jobs –– as members of the Barbados Landship, tuk band players, folk singers, cane cutters, ZR van conductors and so on.

All abroad the Landship

Principal Marva McClean thanked all the willing parents and her creative staff for making the day a reality and helping the children to have a ball as they learned of the past.

“We are educating the children about their heritage and their culture, so that they would have an appreciation for the development of transportation and how the people functioned in years gone by. Many of them are too young to have that experience, so we are trying to  give them that experience so that they can appreciate what we in Barbados have and . . . how they can add and make it more valuable for us as a people living today,” the principal added.

And, it was definitely a wonderful experience for the little three- and four-year-olds who modelled their costumes boldly.

All work and no play…

Their history lesson also involved crafted trains and buses, art, displayed information and storytelling. The history lessons continue next term with the children’s focus on Our Festivals.

More photos available on pages 10 & 11 of our digital ePaper – http://epaper.barbadostoday.bb.

The Barbados chapter of the UWI Alumni Association wants Government to rethink it’s decision to force Barbadian students who are already at the Cave Hill Campus to pay their own tuition fees.

Adding its voice to the chorus of concerns about the move, the association said in a statement that it was of the “firm belief” that the status quo should remain for those already enrolled and the fee decision should only apply to new students joining the university from the coming academic year.

Though acknowledging Government’s constraints and weak financial position, the body said it was time to develop “viable contingencies” to assist those students who could not pay the fees and were in danger of not being able to access tertiary education.

It added that members of the local executive committee were also concerned about the dramatic fall in applications for the next academic year.

“We are also concerned about the fall-off in the number of students currently enrolled at the campus. There is no doubt in our minds, that this is a direct result of the imposition of the tuition fee for students.

“We deem such a significant percentage decrease in student application as an undesirable development for the university, and a negative step in the development of our country,” it said.

The group said members were particularly concerned about students who would be unable to meet their obligation in paying their tuition fees because their parents or guardians were unemployed, worked for “minimum wage”, or simply could not afford the extra burden placed on them by this financial imposition.

The alumni said, however, it was focused on working with the university to secure grants, scholarships and donations as a measure “to lessen the impact of the imposition of tuition fees”.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has sounded a warning that the immediate future of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, is in jeopardy, due to the sharp decline in student registration. And the party says it’s now a matter of when, not if, tutors and administrative staff will be sent home.

BLP spokesperson on education Edmund Hinkson accused the Government of destroying the aspirations of young Barbadians through its decision to cut funding for nationals attending the university, a policy he describes are retrogressive.

Edmund Hinkson

“All of us BLP Members of Parliament and constituency caretakers know of many constituents who have decided to drop out of university after this academic year ends next month, due to their inability and that of their families to raise the necessary finances to continue their respective education. We all know of constituents who, having previously considered attending university, have now not even bothered to apply for admission before the stated closing date, due to the same reason,” Hinkson said at a Press conference held on the weekend.

He said further: “The Government needs to, with urgency and without any further delay, announce to the public the details of a loan scheme for university students with low attractive interest rates, with other favourable terms and conditions and without burdensome penalties for contractual breaches.

“These loans must be equally accessible to all Barbadians, regardless of class, colour, creed or political persuasion.”

The Opposition party is urging Government to hold off on its plan, and to hold urgent town hall meetings in light of the effect the move will have on students, families and the country.

“Put this issue on hold about tuition costs. Let the Government pay for now and let the public come into play,” Hinkson told the media conference held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition. He criticized the Freundel Stuart administration for also failing to consider a BLP proposal to waive tuition fees for eligible persons with disabilities.

“This is wrong. Why can’t you waive those fees. We have signed a convention at the United Nations [dealing with] persons with disabilities,” he said, noting that such individuals were among the most vulnerable in society.

“Consideration has to be given to the 5,000 odd young people who will be leaving secondary school in the next two months, a significant [number] of them who are contemplating a dim future in all of these circumstance.

“We have constantly warned the Government that its decision will result in thousands of our citizens either withdrawing from the University of the West Indies or opting not to enter the institution, simply because they cannot possibly afford to pay tuition fees ranging from between $6,000 and $17,000 each year for full-time students in order to obtain a tertiary degree.”

Hinkson added that it was now questionable whether any Barbadian from the working class would be able to pursue medical studies at the University of the West Indies without the benefit of a scholarship since this degree would cost $180,000 for the first three years of the course.

Last week, the Barbados chapter of the UWI Alumni Association asked Government to rethink its decision to have students already enrolled at the Cave Hill Campus paying their own tuition. Up to early this month, student enrollment was down at least 39 per cent with the Faculty of Social Sciences being the hardest hit at 46 per cent.

One of the main problems students face upon completion of their studies at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) is “where to go next?”.

These students wrestle with the idea of finding jobs, establishing their own businesses or putting their true interest aside to follow instead a more practical route. But in an interview with Barbados TODAY this morning, Joy Prime, an instructor in garment technology said this dilemma should soon be minimized.

Garment Technology instructor, Joy Prime.

Speaking amid a showcase hosted by the Human Ecology Department at the institution in The Pine, St Michael, she said today’s Open Day was an opportunity for students to get their work recognized.

Prime said it was also a chance to get the students to understand that what they were doing was a business and they now had to look at a product.

“Right now in manufacturing, if they go into the industry, they can work for a factory for minimum wage or go out on their own. And lots of them, we find, still aren’t prepared for what they have to do. What I find is that they want to be fabulous designers; they end up being realistic and start making uniforms, and lots of them actually just come out of the industry altogether because they have to survive,” she said.

So one of the things the SJPP is trying to do is develop programmes that help young people take what was given to them at the institute to another level.

“We think that the garment industry in Barbados really needs to get back where it was, where we were exporting, where we were responsible for a significant amount of GDP. We want to get back there, and it is possible because the industry is massive, it is a multibillion-pounds industry; and so it is really a matter of working out how do you get the young people to tap into that. And what we see is not just what we do here; when we finish with the course we have to take it further. They go to [Barbados Community College], but yet we still have to do another level with them, and that is really what we are working at,” Prime said.

“This is the myth, that everybody comes here and they learn garment technology, they go to BCC and they learn how to design and they think that to be a designer is the only thing. But in the industry there are designers, pattern technologists –– separate skills on its own –– and there are people who do marketing, research.

“It is an opportunity for the students because we are trying to get them to think of their product in terms of enterprise. We teach them skills but we want them to understand that if they can’t go out there and get a job, they can market themselves and get work,” she added.

Educator Jeff Broomes has added yet to his list of published works. Today, he launched two books: The Dream that chronicled his experiences as principal of The Alexandra School and the 23-page Bullying –– The New Threat To Civil Society, a guide to recognizing, addressing and preventing the scourge.

Giving the background to the publication on bullying which was developed to assist in combating the problem, Broomes told journalists at a Press launch that it took him five years to complete, as he drew on what he had seen for himself.

“We appreciate that there are a lot of issues going on in schools. Bullying has now become a password. I have been at an institution in St Peter which led me to this position. I did a lot of research, I attended a number of conferences, and I interacted with many of my colleagues; and so I put out a small handbook in bullet point form with feedback from different people and the Minsitry of Education. The book speaks to addressing the issue of bullying.”

Also attending today’s launch of the two books were National Union of Public Workers general secretary Dennis Clarke and Days Books general manager Keith Austin.

Lending his support to Boomes’ efforts in creative writing, Clarke said: “These two pieces of work are testimony to Broomes’ talent and versatility. One can see that coming out of the recent past where he would have been in the media on many occasions. He has taken a decision that most of us would have seen to be a wise decision. He has shown Barbados that he can put experiences behind him and move on.

“From the human perspective, I feel that his decision to come to Parkinson is a loss to Alexandra and a gain for Parkinson. I feel that at the end of the day when he leaves Parkinson he would have pulled the school back up by its bootstraps and made it an institution to be reckoned with.

“It shows your all round talents in education.”

An initiative has been launched to increase political participation among Barbados’ youth and to connect them with the existing Members of Parliament to help them develop and understand the role Parliament plays in society.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley (left) interacting with students who attended the launch of the Youth Parliament.

The National Youth Parliament (BNYP), providing yet another needed platform for the advancement of the youth agenda in Barbados, was launched this morning in the West Wing of Parliament. Some of the broad goals of BNYP, which was established by the Ministry of Youth, in association with the Parliament of Barbados, includes having a successful and effective Youth Parliament that can be relied upon to stimulate growth and change amongst its participants, organizers and the wider community.

Additionally, the Youth Parliament was designed to ensure that the voice of the youth is heard not only in the streets of Barbados but in its Parliament, declaring and proclaiming what young people of this nation stand for and against.

Delivering remarks at the launch, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley said that it was determined the Barbados National Youth Parliament would be patterned after the House of Assembly of Barbados. Wherever possible, the Youth Parliament will follow the rules of procedures of the House of Assembly as closely as practical, although the training would highlight practices from other parliaments, exposing participants to comparative parliamentary practices.

“In developing a framework for the Barbados National Youth Parliament, there was examination of some of the existing youth parliaments, including the Nevis, Suriname and United Kingdom models. Indeed, the examination of the various models revealed that there are many benefits that can accrue from the establishment of a National Youth Parliament in Barbados.

“These benefits,” Lashley said, “include inter alia, increased political participation of youth, education of young Barbadians about the civic process including voting, the branches of government and the legislative process and drafting of model legislation.”

“The current 60 members of the BNYP are drawn from students who attend a recognized educational institution and also youth recommended by recognized community groups or Constituency Councils, having a general interest in Parliament and governance, community spirit or volunteerism and a commitment to gender and equality issues, along with a basic competence in written and/or oral use of English.

“Generally, the long-term sustainability of the BNYP is a central goal of the National Youth Policy. We are quite aware of the many issues that can arise that could impact on the efficiency and the effectiveness of the BYNP. With this in mind, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in conjunction with the President of the Senate and Clerk of Parliament will assume the lead for the [BNYP],” the minister said.

Cherisse Francis, representative of the Barbados National Youth Parliament Sub-Committee and president of the Barbados Youth Development Council said the Youth Parliament was listed as one of the ten mechanisms in pursuing the goals of the National Youth Policy. She said the launch could not have come at a more opportune time as youth in this globalized world have to be articulate, well informed and assertive to stand out among their peers.

“We have made it our business to ensure that this educational tool will continue long beyond our tenure. The vision that I believe the team still possess and which resonates in my mind is a Youth Parliament where Barbadian young people can stand well prepared, passionate, articulate and determined to speak. But the words resonating from the mouths of these members of the Youth Parliament would be such that they command the attention of all Bajans,” Francis said.

Teachers in Barbados could soon join other public sector workers on the breadline –– this indication from Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) president Pedro Shepherd as he addressed the opening of the union’s 40th annual general conference at the Hilton Barbados.

He told members last night the BUT had been informed that specialist teachers were to go, and a number of temporary teachers from each school would also be jobless.

“It is a fact that teacher aides from special units have been retrenched, and I learned a school in Christ Church recently had its general worker severed and no replacement given. I also know of a school, on the other hand, that had a watchman for over a year, never watched but got paid. These things cannot be fair.

“The BUT wants the Minister of the Civil Service to tell his officers at the Public Service Commission and Personnel Administration Division to start to work,” Shepherd declared.

“Let me state that the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has nothing against retrenchment, but before a single teacher is retrenched, we are saying fill every single post.”

Shepherd added: “The Public Service Act states that interviews are part of the recruitment process; so set up one. Like the one that interviewed over 300 teachers in record time last year or year before to appoint senior teachers who for the most part had to be appointed because of the length of time they kept them in Hollywood [acting].

“Remember though, that any teacher you disadvantaged before giving them their legal entitlement or interview would not be taken lightly by the BUT, for who is to say that a disadvantaged or retrenched teacher would not have done an excellent interview and merits a post. Looking at the status of education in the country at this time, the president said the time for education reform is now.

“From the Ministry of Education right down to the janitorial staff. We know what is needed, but we seem afraid to do it unless overseas consultants say so. The time for action is now,” he said.

“I believe that schools should be linked through technology. We need to allow the ITCs to access Skype and use videoconferencing as teaching tools. We need to standardize all operations across all schools. It is my contention that education must be completely overhauled to get value for our money.”

Sisters across the globe were able to follow the progress of the first ever National Leadership Development Programme (NLDP) event in the Western Hemisphere –– Barbados venue –– by following the newsfeed on the Western Hemisphere Link on the WAGGGS website at www.wagggs.org. This week, Guiding Star shares the entries as posted by the participants.        

Sunflower Divas Patrol: We are among 24 Girl Guide Leaders participating in the first ever WAGGGS National Leadership Development Programme (NLDP), during the week of April 5 to 11 in Barbados. As shown in the mural, we all are beginning at the start of the road, and throughout the week will make a metaphorical journey by traversing the road, crossing bridges and navigating through tunnels.

Sunflower Diva patrol

Later in the week we will separate into two different but parallel advisory tracks –– training and governance.  When the two tracks converge, we will be equipped with the tools necessary to strengthen our individual member organizations and the region. To embark on this journey, we have been involved in reflection, team building and enhancement of leadership skills.

We took a historical journey through the garden museum that highlighted the rich legacy of the WAGGGS Leadership Development Programme (WLDP). We ended the first day’s activities by pledging our commitment to continue this journey utilizing the tools we will gain from this inaugural WAGGGS NLDP.   We are ready for the journey!!! We ready . . . . We ready . . . . We ready!

Red Rose Patrol: With eager eyes and open minds, we welcomed the second day. Some of us are still apprehensive, but others are ready to wander into the unknown. With the space created by our NLDP trainers, we are confident [we’ll] gain the knowledge and skills to travel this exciting new journey.

We are inspired to be our best possible selves . . . and create a learning space which acknowledges the skills, values and experiences of learners as the starting point to connect and extend the NLDP vision.

By reflecting on the video clip I Will Be A Hummingbird, we are reminded that in our own unique way we can take this leap of faith to be the change we expect. Equipped with tools such as the SWOT analysis and monitoring and evaluation techniques, our day was indeed busy.

But, of course, in true Caribbean flavour we did some laughing and dancing to culminate an enriching day.

Morning Glory Patrol (aka The 4 Js): Today we parted ways, as we extended ourselves and our journeys took divergent paths. One group delving into the world of governance (leadership and succession planning) and the other submerging themselves in the essence of facilitation.

Morning Glory Patrol

With great anticipation, the participants in the governance stream started our journey to develop and implement succession planning strategies in our member organizations. We covered Analysis Of Skills And Competences In Strategic Plans, Recruitment Strategies For Board Membership, Best Practices In Succession Planning and Ways Of Recruitment.

The regional training advisers, soon to be facilitators in their own MOs and throughout the region, focused on practical implementation today. We worked on plans to separate sessions based on the WLDP personal development module, which helped us determine the major differences between teaching, training and facilitating.

We were also encouraged to do deep, reflective introspection, as we learned that understanding not just the audience but also ourselves is extremely important. We are definitely on our way!

We actively participated in a Toastmasters International meeting where they demonstrated their meeting procedures. Monitoring and evaluating speeches and table topics were undertaken by participants, allowing us to apply the skills we had developed.

There was an exchange of Guiding and Toastmasters’ principles that may be adopted by both. We are looking forward to an excellent partnership! The night ended with cultural presentations and tasty treats being shared as we eagerly await what’s coming next.

The Budding Purple Orchids: What will your awesome be? That has been our challenge for the past four days as we continue our journey along the NLDP path. This morning we were exposed to leading change, and one thought that resonated with us was: “I want every little girl who is told she is bossy, to be told instead she has leadership skills.”

Can you imagine that? This was an ah-ah moment for us, as we never considered bossy girls to be leaders, and we don’t think you did either. Now we look at it differently . . . because that’s what NLDP is all about –– changing a mindset, which we have come to realize begins with us, before we pass what we know on to you.

A realistic depiction of the four phases of the Change Curve Model was performed by the NLDP Dramatic Society, allowing us to experience the different feelings first hand. We must say that the methods employed by our facilitators are truly innovative and varied, just always pushing us to think just a little bit more, even when we think we don’t know the answer.

We are indeed charged up, excited, enthusiastic and exhilarated! And imagine there is still more to come . . . . . As leaders, we are all volunteers, and this sparked a discussion about how we can encourage others to make the effort to step up to the plate. This was where FLEXIVOL came in, which stands for Flexibility, Legitimacy, Ease Of Access, Experiences, Incentives, Variety, Organization and Laughs –– truly quite an interesting concept to grasp.

But, all of this information was just preparing us for our final task of the day, and this was a aha moment! We had to begin working on being facilitators, who would lead the change by using the strategies of the NLDP. Wow!!! This was going to be an all-nighter, but we were going to get to our awesome!!!

The end of this part of the journey. Awe-inspiring are the only words we can use to describe the final leg of our journey. We saw the growth of individual participants during the presentation of topics pertaining to this region. The ramble through beautiful Bridgetown allowed us an opportunity to see some of the significant landmarks on the island –– which were amazing.

The trek through town was fun and exciting, as we all wanted to reach the Bay Street Esplanade finish line first.

Standing united on the beach was our closing ceremony, which touched us all emotionally as we reflected on our journey. We were all supportive of Yolanda as she decided that this moment on the beach was the right time to make her promise. We concluded the closing with dinner at Carib Beach Bar, where we enjoyed food and fellowship as one united Caribbean Link.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation has embarked on a number of strategies to support the achievement of the Education For All (EFA) Goals by next year.

This was pointed out today by Chief Education Officer Laurie King, as he addressed the start of a Stakeholders’ Forum at the United Nations (UN) House, Hastings, Christ Church, to examine the island’s progress to date.

Stressing that these goals were aimed at sustaining the transformation of our education system and at maintaining the gains at every level, King said the Ministry was seeking to promote and strengthen the application of science, technology and innovation as key drivers of productivity, and enhanced competitiveness and development of the nation’s people to facilitate growth in all sectors of the economy.

He outlined seven key domains, which he noted would underpin these efforts to achieve enhanced learning outcomes for all students and improve growth and development at the national level.

These were listed as physical well-being of all students; social and emotional development; culture, the arts and creative arts; and the potential of the creative industries, within the context of the inputs from key educational institutions to foster growth and development and literacy and communication skills. He said that others were learning approaches and cognition within the context of learning for life and personal and national development; numeracy and mathematics to address national deficiencies in performance in this area and science, technology and innovation.

King further noted that to achieve these goals emphasis would be placed on institutional strengthening and capacity building to ensure the ministry became “more effective, efficient and responsive to the development of citizens” as a vital component of improving national productivity and competitiveness of the labour force.

“The ministry will also take advantage of strategic institutional linkages and partnerships within the public and across the private sectors to realize its goal of contributing to the development of a highly productive, competitive and innovative people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Resident Representative for the United Nation’s Development Programme in Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Lara Blanco, commended Barbados.

She said the assessments which countries in different regions were required to conduct would identify emerging issues and challenges, highlight good practices and draw salient lessons on prospects for education in the future. (BGIS)

Today, Charles Ifill, a master of the art of teaching, said goodbye to a career he loved and lived.

Retired teacher Charles Ifill (centre) enjoying his retirement function at the Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School with his wife Annie (left) and the school’s principal Charles Hinds.

For instilling knowledge, developing skills and inculcating positive attitudes in the hundreds of students he has taught over the last 41 years, Ifill was showered with tributes and gifts at a retirement function held in his honour at the Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School, where he ended his teaching career on March 1.

Students and teachers, through speech, dance, song, and the playing of musical instruments, expressed their appreciation for Ifill’s invaluable contribution.

Students playing Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da on steel pan.

He was described as a teacher who often came across as serious, but had the ability to laugh heartily. Many called him the warm, caring, corporative individual who paid attention to duty, always willing to substitute when required.

They said he was always willing to offer good advice and encouragement.

Ifill commanded the respect and attention of students in the delivery of the curriculum with ease, yet was firm in his discipline, and frequently took time out to counsel students and point out the inappropriateness of their behaviour when he saw the need to.

His long-standing friend Coral Richards, who interacted with him in his capacity as teacher, pastor, analyst and musician, said she respected him as a man who nurtured lives in and outside the classroom.

“He is a man of integrity and I can stand here and say this without any fear of contradiction. He is known for bringing balance and new perspectives to challenging situations and also for making decisions, based on principle and not personalities, and that is something which I respect very highly . . . . I believe he has done an excellent job. He is not a person who gives a lot of liberty to his mouth –– and that is something that is lacking today,” Richards told the gathering.

Ifill began his teaching career at the Good Shepherd Mixed School in 1973 where he spent 11 years before furthering his career in Grenada at the St Andrews’s Anglican Primary School.

On his return to Barbados, he gave 11 years of service to Deacons Primary School before he was reassigned to Good Shepherd from September 2006 to August 2010. In September 2010, he continued his service in the profession at Hillaby.

District Education Officer Olwin Walker commended Ifill’s genuine thirst for knowledge. She said she believed his degrees in theology and sociology helped him cope with the changes in cultures, values and norms and in understanding human interactions.

“I am sure these two areas have assisted you in answering many perplexing questions during your years as a teacher. You would have witnessed changes in the family, school systems, religion and crime, all would have impacted on the students you taught.

“Mr Ifill, many thanks to you for your contribution to nation building, for every child whom you encouraged, for the one whom you wiped a tear. For the parent you advised appropriately, for the child whom you assisted when they needed extra help, we thank you. For those students you led to greater understanding . . . and those who aspired to pursue further learning, thank you on behalf of the Ministry of Education,” Walker said.

In response, Ifill expressed his appreciation to the school, his wife and five children, and former colleagues.

The 65-year-old said while he was sure to miss teaching, all those with whom he came into contact would have a very special place in his memories as he joined the retirement club.

“I thank you for the thoughts that you have shared. I want you to know that this is a day that I will always remember for the rest of my life,” he said.

Ifill encouraged teachers and students to shine individually, and collectively.

“I wish you the very best. I pray that God will continue to touch your lives and touch every plan and every executed plan that you might have lived,” he said.

Headgirl Tyeisha Cummins presenting a prize to retiring teacher Charles Ifill.