As 90 students of West Terrace Primary School crossed the stage to begin a new chapter in their lives, Minister of Technological and Vocational Training Sandra Husbands urged them to embrace change as they prepare for an increasingly fast-changing world.
Husbands, who is also St James South MP, said Barbados’ education transformation is designed to equip young people with the skills needed to thrive in a future shaped by technology, innovation and lifelong learning.
Addressing the school’s graduation ceremony at the Hilton Barbados Resort on Tuesday, she said: “Our responsibility as a government, as a country, as teachers, as parents, is to prepare you for that different world. We are on your side; we are working with you. We are committed to helping you succeed in whatever it is you have to face.”
Photo Credit: Lourianne Graham
Husbands acknowledged that while the transition may be challenging for students, it has also required teachers to rethink how they teach.
“Embracing the educational change”, she told the graduates, “changing the way they present information, learning new ways to do math, learning new ways to help you develop yourself, and they have had to make tremendous sacrifices to do that.”
Husbands stressed that while academics remain important, education must also recognise the different strengths each child possesses.
“We understand that every single child is gifted, not in exactly the same ways. Each of you has your own package of gifts to take forward into the future. Some students are natural leaders, some are innovators, some are athletes, some are artists, some are builders, some are musicians, some are caregivers, some are communicators, some are problem solvers, some are entrepreneurs.”
She assured students that the transformed education system is intended to ensure every child has an opportunity to succeed.
“Some of you possess talents that we have not yet recognised, and we’re going to have to build a pathway for those too. What that means is that because each one of you possesses ability, once we change the educational system to help every child develop that ability, every single child can succeed.”
Looking ahead, Husbands said employers will increasingly value practical skills alongside academic knowledge.
“As technologies evolve, and industries change, employers will increasingly seek people who can think critically, communicate effectively, innovate, collaborate and adapt. Success in the future will not depend solely on what you know. It will depend on how well you can apply what you know.”
“That is why we are broadening opportunities for students to develop practical skills, technical abilities, creative talents, leadership qualities, and entrepreneurial thinking. We want every single child to leave school with options, real options.”
She also urged parents to adapt as their children transition to secondary school.
“Secondary school requires a different kind of parental engagement, and one of the things that the Ministry of Education Transformation will share with you is that they’re going to be bringing parenting education and making it available.”
“We want to equip you with the best way to manage the talents of your children. Your children are moving towards greater independence; they’re going to ask more questions, they’re going to challenge ideas, they will seek greater responsibility, and they will occasionally make mistakes. So this next phase calls for a broader set of parenting skills.”
In her report, Principal Charmain Jones highlighted the school’s focus on strengthening literacy and numeracy while embracing technology in the classroom.
“Our major goal was to cultivate strong reading skills and deepen mathematical understanding while striving to perform above the national mean in both math and English. We also placed great emphasis on embracing technology in education and enhancing the teaching and learning process across the curriculum.”
Jones also outlined the school’s Common Entrance exam performance, noting: “Every student here today did his or her best. Our top student overall is Riley Layne with 88 per cent in English and 99 per cent in mathematics. The top student in English is Tiago Renwick.”
She said the majority of students performed strongly in both English and mathematics.
“The majority of our students performed strongly in both English and mathematics. In English, most students scored within the 70s and 80s range, reflecting strong comprehension and written expression. I am pleased to share that of our 91 graduating students, over 81 per cent, or 74 students, achieved a grade A or B in the essay rating.”
Offering advice to parents, Jones urged them to remain actively involved as their children move into secondary school.
“Give them room to grow, but stay close. Secondary school brings more independence. Allow your child to take on responsibility while checking in regularly on how they are coping. Watch out for signs of stress, not just grades. Secondary school can be emotional as well as academic. Pay attention to changes in mood, sleep or appetite, not just report cards.”
Featured speaker Pastor John Yarde challenged the graduates to pursue their ambitions with purpose.
“I wanna invite you to dream big, but I also invite you to plan big. I want to invite you and challenge you to write down your dream. To share your dream with trusted people.”
Using The Lion King as the theme of his address, Yarde encouraged students to remain true to who they are as they enter secondary school, warning that they will encounter many influences that could pull them away from their values and purpose.
(LG)
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