Abolish 11-Plus

 ‘Abolish 11-Plus’:

VETERAN EDUCATOR ADAMS SLAMS ‘EXAM INEQUALITY’

By Sheria Brathwaite

Former senator and retired principal Alwyn Adams on Friday reignited calls to scrap the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination, commonly known as the 11-Plus, describing it as an outdated relic of educational segregation that stifles the potential of the working class.

While delivering the keynote address at Speech Day of St Leonard's Boys' Secondary School where he was once principal, Adams criticised the island's education system, declaring that it was failing the people and urgently needed reform.

Repeating a call made two years ago, he argued that the common entrance examination is an antiquated mechanism designed to limit the academic advancement of Barbados' working class and perpetuate educational segregation. He said then that with Barbados having transitioned to a republic, the country ought to get rid of the current educational system which he has described as "a preservation of British rule".

During his speech, he said that there was a segment of the public who wanted to maintain the status quo of the old grammar schools and that was why there was a substantial amount of pushback to the reforms the Ministry of Education announced will soon be introduced.

Adams told the audience: "The tremendous intellect of the working class in this country was being stifled. . . what we call the newer secondary schools were seen as a dumping ground for the children of the working class."

The former senator pointed to a segment of the population resistant to reform, particularly those who sought to preserve the traditional grammar schools, which he claimed was driving substantial pushback against planned changes announced by the Ministry of Education.

Adams also linked the education system's shortcomings to broader economic challenges, noting that Great Britain abolished the 11-plus in 1969 after recognising its negative impact on the economy.

"And we in Barbados pretend that there is no other alternative. The idea that you can have an 11-plus and say that there is no alternative is really a form of obeah.

Something that is strangling you adversely, people are saying that there is no alternative when across the world all the industrialised countries abolished the 11-plus."

He warned that Barbados could not evolve into a modern society while retaining the examination.

The ceremony also celebrated students for their achievements across various disciplines. Among the awardees were Rovaldo Massiah, who received the Principal's Award and the Sportsman of the Year Award; Husain Piprawala, recognised as the most outstanding CSEC 2023-2024 student; Kaiden King, named the most outstanding CAPE 2023-2024 student; and Jonathan Dowlat, awarded Student of the Year.

(SZB)

Barbados Today Saturday December 7th., 2024

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CARICOM and Haiti

Image
  A s rampant gang violence displaces hundreds of thousands of Haitians and leaves millions on the brink of famine, the temptation to call on the United States to intervene is compelling. But, we must learn from history – US intervention in Haiti, whether through outright military force or imposing an outside economic agenda, has done tremendous harm and contributed immensely and directly to today’s instability. This pattern cannot be repeated. The path forward must be charted by Haitians themselves, with international support channelled into uplifting homegrown efforts to restore peace, democracy and development from the ground up. It is for this reason that the latest statements from powerful ganglord Jimmy  Barbecue  Chérizier are so concerning. Chérizier has expressed a willingness to potentially disarm his forces – if gangs like his are allowed to have a seat at the table in negotiations to establish Haiti’s interim government. Legitimising armed criminal militias in...
Read more
Image
  By William Skinner As we celebrate International Womens’ Day, we are cognizant of the role our Caribbean women have played in the cultural social and economic growth of our region and evolving Caribbean civilization. They , like our men , have risen from the depths and decadence of slavery , to the highest political and corporate ladders in the region. They have given birth, to millions and have made and continue to make significant contributions to those in the Diaspora. In many cases, where they were not the biological mothers, they nurtured, cared and developed those , who were deprived of parenthood , and socio-economic hope. They are in our classrooms, directing young and fragile minds , how to navigate a world that we in the region , must forever avoid being dragged into conflicts of the so-called super powers. They are pursuing all the opportunities of our tertiary educational institutions, including the University of the West Undies, often in higher numbers than our men. ...
Read more
Image
  By William Skinner We aware that our culture is being infiltrated and seriously penetrated by our exposure, both physically and mentally to foreign norms We will continue to remind regional leaders that our culture is our major strength and while we are appreciative of their efforts to support our cultural practitioners , we believe that a more concentrated effort is needed , in our schools and communities. As a region, we have the distinction of creating the only musical instrument of the twentieth century, in the form of the steel pan (drum) of Trinidad and Tobago. We have also brought the calypso and reggae music , to the globe.  Every day we blend our culture with economic activity in all areas. Our foods , are magical and each island has its share of culinary delights that incorporate all our cultures .  We have made the cardinal error of being embarrassingly slow in linking our culture with the tourism industry , which is the economic mainstay of many island econo...
Read more