St Leonard’s Boys’ School has claimed top honours in the Ministry of Educational Transformation’s School Attendance Jingle Competition, with their original song, Don’t lose your way set to become the anthem for a nationwide push to tackle student absenteeism.
Their victory was announced following the finals at the St Leonard’s Boys’ Auditorium on Friday.
St Leonard’s secured 466 points, with Shirley Chisholm Primary School’s jingle, Take me to School, close behind on 429 points. Springer Memorial School came third with Why Should I?, scoring 352 points, while Grazettes Primary placed fourth with Stop Fooling Around.
Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said the competition is an innovative means to address one of the key concerns the education sector is facing — student absenteeism.
She referred to the first event earlier this year — a speak-off which focused on absenteeism and lateness, held in February under the theme, Punctuality Matters.
Archer-Bradshaw acknowledged the various challenges students face: “While we are aware that many factors contribute to absenteeism, ranging from economic hardship to family responsibilities, our interactions with students and parents have revealed a consistent theme, and this theme is a lack of motivation.”
She urged continued action to keep students connected, stating: “When students feel connected to their learning, when they recognise the relevance of school to their aspirations, and when they are encouraged and celebrated, they are far more likely to show up consistently, confidently and with purpose.”
The chief education officer explained to the audience that music was the chosen medium “because of its profound influence on young people”.
“It motivates, it energises, it connects and it engages you deeply on an emotional level,” she said.
Archer-Bradshaw praised the students’ creativity, adding: “These jingles are not just songs that we want you to listen to, but there are messages of hope, responsibility, and pride.”
The chief educator identified motivation as the spark that fuels engagement. “When students feel connected to their learning, when they recognise the relevance of school to their aspirations, and when they are encouraged and celebrated, they are far more likely to show up consistently, confidently and with purpose,” she remarked. “This aligns with Barbados’ ongoing efforts towards educational transformation.”
“As we reimagine the future of learning, our goal is to create an education that is fair, inclusive, relevant, and modern, an education system that has our students at the centre.”
Emphasising the goal of the Ministry of Education, the education chief said: “The school attendance jingle competition reflects this vision, offering students a platform to express themselves, to be heard, and to connect with their education in meaningful ways. That is why this competition was created — to raise awareness about attendance, but more importantly, to inspire action. It is a platform for students to explore their creativity, reflect on the value of education, and boldly proclaim ‘my presence matters’.”
Archer-Bradshaw also stressed the critical role of parental involvement.
“When parents are engaged, encouraging daily attendance, celebrating milestones, and remaining connected to their children’s learning, students are more likely to stay motivated and succeed. A child’s journey through school is strongest when supported by a village, and today is a testament to that collective effort,” she said.
UN ambassador and philanthropist Michael Mikey Mercer also addressed the gathering. He encouraged school attendance and discipline as key to helping young people succeed.
“School attendance prepares you for the world of work,” he said. “This is where the school attendance now builds discipline…. It really is you getting out what you put in.”
Mikey also encouraged the students to stay positive: “There’s always a lot of negativity said about our youth…. I want you guys to continue to prove the rhetoric wrong…. Keep your head on, stay focused…. Stay positive, stay focused and work hard. It is not cliché. It will pay off.”
Education officials said they were hoping that the winning jingle would be played on the radio at the start of the new academic year in September and featured by the National Cultural Foundation. (LG)
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