Educational Transformation Minister Chad Blackman dismissed criticism of his ministry’s decision to write parents outlining the true cost of free schooling, saying the move – alongside stricter oversight of school nutrition – is aimed at reminding Barbadians of the value of education and promoting student wellbeing.
“Barbados is not a country with gold or bauxite or any large deposits of oil. We’re certainly not a military power, but our strength and comparative advantage, our superpower as Bajans, is our brain, our ideas, our intellect.
And when we invest in you and send you to school, it is really for the entire country to benefit,” he said at the St George Secondary School’s speech day.
He emphasised that while education remains free at the point of delivery, the cost is borne by taxpayers.
“Sometimes we get so comfortable we take things that are good for granted. Every time a school is fixed, painted, a door replaced, a new block added, teachers get training or new teachers come on board, these are costs you and your parents don’t pay at the point of delivery, but ultimately, the entire society through the taxpayers pays, and therefore we must understand the value.”
Blackman noted that as the country marks 60 years of independence next year, it must pause to reflect on its investments in education.
“There are times in our history when we must help our people understand the importance of that investment. That is why we are doing what we are doing. You have great opportunities ahead of you. Value the resources, value your time.”
The parental letters, which have prompted criticism from the opposition, aim to show the zero balance of free primary and secondary schooling while highlighting the true cost borne by taxpayers. Critics have argued that the initiative is an insult to parents and does not represent genuine accountability or transparency.
Alongside the letters, Blackman confirmed earlier this week that the ministry is developing a national education tracker. He said the ministry had been discussing a profile card for every child in Barbados that would remain with them from primary school through secondary school, allowing officials to track their socio-emotional development, academic progress, technical skills, and interests.
On school nutrition, Blackman reaffirmed his hands-on approach: “My approach to education, like many other things, is to meet with my team in the ministry, we have our management meetings, we set ideas, take it to Cabinet for policy, but I’m a very hands-on type of person. If I see something going wrong that needs to be corrected, I will get in my car and go where I have to go to ensure that I can see and feel the pulse of what is happening on the ground with respect to our education system.”
He noted that childhood obesity continues to rise in Barbados, with the island in the midst of a non-communicable disease epidemic. “It isn’t always going to be popular, but part of leadership means staying the course,” he said. “The ultimate prize is to ensure that we prepare a world-class student, a Barbadian who can navigate anywhere in the world with the values and discipline to succeed and to be healthy.”
While health is not his ministerial portfolio, Blackman said it was a shared responsibility: “It is about working with our vendors to find a common solution. The government continues to take particular pride in what our vendors do in Barbados. They have a role to play. It is now about working together to ensure children have access to proper alternatives.”
(SZB)
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