1. First of all standards dropping all over. I sat 11plus in mid 90’s and back then you had to get higher than 84 (average) to get into Combermere (C’Mere) and I think the year in front the cut off marks were higher. Now they are children getting in their 70’s (average) and going to C’Mere.
2. At C’mere we strive for all students to do get that highest academic level of a scholarship or exhibition. But we were never that big on producing academic scholarships or exhibitions (my year had lots of near misses); we were big on producing well rounded individuals. So I dont know why the Minister is surprised. Dont get me wrong I think its great when schools could attain scholarships or exhibitions. Congrats to HC & QC this year.
3. I agree with you about students from other secondary schools (also C’Mere & Lodge) who only go to 6th for at HC or QC and they get scholarships. HC has claimed nearly all of our Prime Minsters and I believe that only 1 (Tom Adams) went to HC throughout. I believe Barrow first went to C’Mere; Sandiford & Authur first went CP; St. John & Stuart first went Foundation. (Correct correct me if I am wrong).

At UWI I have met past students from Springer, St. James & St. George Secondary. If you have a scholarship/exhibition or a handful of CXC’s; your journey does not stop there. Both ‘scholars’ and ‘non-scholars’ alike can make the most of what you have.

Unless Minister Jones can provide more insight – one must assume he is seized with more information than we in the general public – it must be labelled an asinine statement.

Not Combermere so much, but Lodge used to match HC for scholarships. The standards at Lodge have fallen, alas! I do not understand the point about which school one went to before HC however. Should we then not credit your CAPE performance to the primary school which you attended?

The Scout wrote,”There are many children who are gifted in carpentry, masonry, culinary arts, graphics, other fine arts and other non-traditional scholarship areas that need assistance in furthering their studies.”

Great idea. I would like to see scholarships in Industrial Design.

“it must be labelled an asinine statement.”

Now what more can you expect from a genuine Jack Ass .. one among many

Education minister make sure my old school Foundation gets its sixth form in September as you promised no Jonesing around Foundation will be up there with Bdos Scholars in quick time.
Our learned PMFruendel Stuart would have easily won a Bdos scholarship if Foundation had a sixth form.

@ T.J check your facts Fruendel Stuart attended Foundation School exclusively he didnt go to HC. He and David Thoumson are the only two PM’s with no connection to Harrison’s College. Do you people read?

Zoning only works if all the schools have the same resources and the same quality teachers.

Unless something has changed HC, QC and Lodge used to have the best teachers and resources.

What Barbados also needs is a Polytechnic and Community College that focuses on the Trades and Creative Arts.

Instead we have the Community college trying to be a University while battling for academic scholarships.

Google George Brown College and Centennial College in Toronto.

I gine an practice wha I learn at the informal Barbados Institute of Piscatorial Pursuits. I am applying that training in Rivers and lakes in Canada.lol

uh gone.

Why cant people who matter see that the problem with zoning is no problem at all ?
Cant people just see that all needs to be done is for us to just do it.
Cant people who matter see that for a short period that there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth but eventually things would settle down.
Cant you people remember that there was a hue and cry when Queens College was to be relocated to Husbands ?
What say the naysayers now ?
Has the School suffered any ?
Dont Barbadians complain about everything , every major development because they seem to be afraid to take steps by themselves because of a childish, hold-my -hand approach that I will fall or fail if I dont get help?
Is it not clear by now that Bajans tend to be afraid of change -any change , even change for the better ?
Didnt many bajans oppose the building of the deep water harbour; QEH; Government Headquarters(Bay Street); Central Bank Building ; Treasury Building; East Coast Road; University of West Indies at Cave Hill -(people quarrelled when the land was acquired);ABC Highway; Sherbourne;Kensington Oval; Crop Over Festival ; Calypso Music ; Rihanna-(SHE IS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT)
Cant call all
Can you add some more?
Dont you know that if you listen to people , you would do nothing ?
JUST ASKING ?

No matter how we slice it, it partially boils down to the teacher and teacha, It is obvious that the system places the teachers at the schools that were always looked up to and the teachas are scattered to other schools where the system doesn’t think that the school can make a name for itself by producing top scholars. What a set of crock. Shame on Barbados educational system. I thought over the years and by now the mentality of those in authority of the educational system would take off those rose-colored glasses.

@Hants

Have no idea the logic of the decision behind what was to have been implemented in 2008, the correct name is the University College of Barbados.

A couple years ago former Chief Education Officer Wendy Griffith while contributing to a talk show, fingered the Springer School and one other ‘comprehensive’ school as far as performance is concerned.

Despite calls for her to support her position with data it was never forthcoming.

Now we have the Minister shooting off his mouth about the performance of sixth form schools at Combermere and Lodge without feeling pressure that he should support his mouthings with data.

Bear in mind the two people at the centre of making the statements are the top figureheads of the education ministry.

There is an irony in this somewhere.

The Minister’s comments though true were unfortunate since they neither revealed “context” nor brought specific facts.

To Just Asking, every major educational decision (e.g zoning) will be taken in a bigger sociopolitical context as opposed to the merits of its virtue, as such there will be no zoning anytime soon under any of these administrations
.
To all others, the issue of scholarship allocation pales in comparison to the challenges facing our education system (and society as a whole). Debating whether we should get one or two more scholarships from whoever only obfuscates the number of professional issues our teachers face, the psychosocial issues that our schools have to contend with daily, and the inability of our education system to meet the needs of our young learners today from as early as primary school.

@ David

@Observing
Well stated.
*************
Wait a minute David!! That is the same thing that the bushman said – except his got it pretty Crumpton Street words like ‘obfuscates’….

We all know that Observing is another bright spark like MME so the Bush man defers….LOL

That is why BT likes the 11 Plus. If Bushie was in class with people like GP, Hants, John, MME and Observing – the Bushman would probably run way….and join Zoe’s church…LOL

Did you see this comment on another thread?
Dont you think it is just as appropriate here with a little addition and subtraction
DONT YOU THINK THAT AS FAR AS THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS CONCERNED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF BARBADOS AND THE MINISTER SHOULD NOT BE SUED FOR DISCRIMINATION ?
DONT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CONTINUED USE OF THE 11 PLUS EXAM IS NOT AN ABUSE OF BARBADIAN CHILDREN AND THAT ITS CONTINUED USE IN A MODERN BARBADOS CONSTITUTES DISCRIMINATION OF SOME SORT ?-(where are the freedom fighters ?)
What Progresses in Education ?
Do you mean a poor education system that focuses only on academics and that has so brainwashed people that they believe that only doctors and lawyers matter ?
Do you mean a society who wants to send all 4000 students who sit the outdated and innocuous 11 PLUS exam to one school?
Why do big people who left school many moons ago want to know “which school you went to school at ?” (Read Sherwin Walters -Nation 2-3 weeks ago)
How long will this society continue with this nonsense ?
When will we see that from the time women teachers took over in the schools that discipline climbed down?
Dont people understand that women are not suited to the task and that they throw their hands in the air and declare -I dont care who learn once I getting my salary ?
Do you mean a society that cant see that this damn foolishness of the 11 plus exam continues to promote elitism and discrimination ?

Why is it a mystery that if students are assigned to schools based on having attained higher test scores when measured against their compatriots, that the same high achieving students will receive superior results compared to their peers in exams in approximately 6-7 years.

If one likes the 11 plus they should love the Barbados Scholarship results, it proves the system is working, maybe not to everyone’s benefit but to the benefit of some students and some schools.

Never mind that the studies which the Scholarship recipients choose to embark on are as predictable as summer rain. In an island nation where a large number of people make their living from the sea or a related endeavour not a Marine Biologist to be found, but plenty of aspirants in the fields of Medicine, Law and Accounting.

The Generation which benefited from free Secondary hasn’t built on the legacy handed down by the visionary E W Barrow. They are unable to formulate a system which works to the benefit of all, but rely on a 50 year old relic which prizes academic achievement at the ripe old age of eleven. They still promote an educational policy which puts a premium on some “White Collar” professions above all others.

Whichever Party forms the Gov’t of Barbados, it always finds itself stuck in the quicksand that is found within the confines of the Ministry of Education. They seem to say “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”, they should be reminded that a car with a flat tire can still be driven.

@BT & David
Thanks for the compliment.
In non-crumpton street talk – “Uh trying ta get a lil more regular pun hey!”

@just Asking
The discrimination and prejudice doesn’t begin and isn’t caused by 11 plus. It begins in the minds of parents, teachers, primary school principals and people of all ages in the community. 11 plus is just a part of the problem and a validation and sum total of our own perceptions and beliefs regarding class and academia. Also though the abundance of female teachers poses a challenge to our young males’ development I don’t agree it’s their fault for the decline in discipline. I will agree that the system needs more men though.

Those with a genuine interest in education and some minutes to spare should take a look at this video.It spells out clearly what’s wrong with our system. Finding a solution is another debate however.

@David
Glad you raised the single parent home factor. I’ve argued in other places that in this age we’re living the worst thing for a boy child is to be raised by a single mother without a positive or consistent male role model around. This raises another debate outside of education re. gender expectations, role responsibilities and male “norms,” the impact of which in my opinion has mentally, financially, socially and even professionally paralyzed a generation of men at all levels. There are some things that young developing boys need that women will NEVER be able to provide.

Regarding the schools I’m not dismissing the female factor, just don’t think we should paint the tiled floor with too big a single brush stroke and I don’t want to cast full blame on female teachers for things they don’t (or can’t) realise or can’t (or don’t want to) change. The problem (younger) female teachers pose is their lack of understanding of and inability to properly relate to young males (the reasons for this would need another thread). Thus poor teacher-student relationships, unrealistic teacher expectations, male frustration and even internal demotivation and disillusionment result. The rebellion or ill-discipline that we see among younger male students therefore is simply a symptom of these factors and a reaction. Some female teachers can and have corrected this in the past but alas far too few are doing it now, and in this “female independence/women’s lib/not my problem” part of the world the many others see no reason why they should.

“When will we see that from the time women teachers took over in the schools that discipline climbed down?
Dont people understand that women are not suited to the task and that they throw their hands in the air and declare -I dont care who learn once I getting my salary ?”

The above statement is sooo assinine and I can’t believe that someone would utter these words. So who do these children belong to? The teachers? Children learn what they see from home and bring it into the school. So what is the solution? Get rid of female teachers? Well in that case the schools will have no teachers at all. Let us fact facts folks, those of you who believe men are failing because they are not given the attention at schools. Many Men are failing because they have never grown up and have never taken responsibility. for their actions. Yes Mothers are to blame for this because they never taught them responsibility at home.

David I am a bit disappointed with your response. Even though many men stayed in the family setting many were abusive and lacked the ability to parent their children. The mothers had to be both father and mother. Men have been allowed to get away with many things whilst a woman would be chastised by both men and women if she did the same as her male counterpart. Men feel that because they are male (because they have a doggie) they have a god given right to lead. Tell me how many women leaders do you see leading their country into war? Let us face it, men have to start seeing themselves as partners in relationships and in the workplace. They have to see themselves walking side by side with their partners each taking the lead where their strengths lie. Men have to stop behaving like dogs dropping their seed all over the place and that they must be there for their children emotionally and financially. We need some serious parenting clinics on this island for both men and women.

If men are academic failures they must take responsibility for that and stop blaming the women!

@Chris Halsall… I can agree with you on this!

@David: “The lack of a male role model outside the school and home setting is not to be forgotten.

I was about to argue with you, but then I realized…

Every influential teacher I’ve had the benefit of being taught by had been male.

So then the question must be asked: Why are there not more male teachers here in Barbados? Is the pay too low, or is the prestige too low?

@Hants

In your day what was the male:female ratio.

@Hants: “Did you go to school in Canada or Barbados?

Canada. This is on the record.

@Hants: “At Kolij we had good female teachers. Bev Alleyne (french) and Judy Pilgrim(physics) Lady Adams (Geography).

What about English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Science?

@Hants: “Teaching at the secondary level in Barbados was dominated by Males but we did have very good female teachers as well.

Have, or had?

Language matters.