The Ministry of Education Transformation on Monday moved to reposition the family as the engine of educational success, with a new national programme that places parents and caregivers alongside teachers in shaping outcomes.
Launched in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Parent Education Programme (PEP) signals a strategic shift: from focusing primarily on classrooms and infrastructure to acknowledging that academic success begins at home.
The pilot is now under way at 13 sites across several parishes, targeting parents and caregivers of children aged 3 to 18. The premise is straightforward but consequential—students navigating a fast-changing world need home environments that are as informed and responsive as the curriculum they meet at school.
Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw set the tone at the launch, underscoring the centrality of the “human element” in student outcomes. While investment in facilities and technology remains vital, she argued, parental engagement is the consistent factor.
“Too often when we speak about improving education, we focus on curriculum, infrastructure and technology,” Dr. Archer-Bradshaw explained. “While these facets are indeed essential, there is another factor that consistently has a great impact on student success. This factor is parents. That is why the parent education program or the PEP is so important. This initiative is a deliberate investment in the parents and the caregivers who are raising our youngest citizens.”
She described the programme as practical and accessible, designed to meet families where they are, irrespective of circumstance.
“When parents are empowered with the necessary skills, children succeed, and when families are strengthened, schools are transformed,” she said. “The program is flexible, community-based, and deeply practical. It is built around real-life experiences and real-life challenges. Most importantly, it is designed to give parents the tools that they will need to bring about positive outcomes when it comes to their children in their household.”
Development partner, local focus
The IDB has committed $300 000 to support the initiative, backing a model that blends evidence with local context. Francesco De Simone, operations chief for the IDB Barbados Country Office, framed the partnership as both ambitious and culturally grounded:
“When the ministry first approached the IDB, your request was clear and ambitious: to not only seek a new program, but also a comprehensive national strategy,” De Simone said. “The challenge was to strengthen the connection between education, children, and families, not through a generic lens, but through a very Barbadian approach. This is critical because development only succeeds when people see themselves in it.”
He pointed to regional data indicating that parenting programmes can significantly improve child development outcomes.
“The parent education programme is here to equip, empower, and strengthen parenting, demonstrating that education is collaborative and extends far beyond the classroom,” he added. “The IDB is very proud to support a bold framework that recognises that education and parenting are not separate, but two forces working together to meet the single challenge of raising our children.”
‘It begins at home’
In a keynote speech, Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman argued that education reform must start well before a child enters a classroom.
“Education transformation does not begin at the school gate. It begins at home. And dare I say, not just at home, it begins from the hospital,” he said.
He urged parents to consider the lasting impact of their words and interactions:
“Be aware of what you say to the children, because oftentimes you may say something in a moment’s notice to your child, and that scar can last long after a decade or two. That shapes the child’s mindset and perspective of the world.”
Blackman also addressed student behaviour beyond school grounds, particularly loitering at bus stops, signalling a firmer, coordinated response.
“The Ministry of Education with the other entities of government will be ensuring that we bring a stop to this,” Blackman warned. “Your education is critical and many parents would be shocked to know that these children are on the road, not at school. It has to stop because we have to protect them and prepare them for the world.”
He positioned the PEP within a broader national moment, as Barbados approaches its 60th anniversary of Independence:
“When we strengthen parents, we strengthen our children. And when we strengthen our children, we in one single moment strengthen this country that we call Barbados. The transformation of education continues to be underway, but its success depends on everyone working together.”
As the pilot progresses, the ministry is urging parents to commit to the six-week course, framing participation not as remediation but as leadership within the family.
PEP: What to know
With $300 000 in funding from the Inter-American Development Bank, the education ministry announced an evidence-based, culturally relevant parent education pilot programme tailored to Barbados. It’s rationale is that stronger parenting practices correlate with better child development and educational performance.
– Pilot scope: 13 sites across several parishes.
– Target group: Parents and caregivers of children ages 3–18.
– Duration: Six-week programme
– Focus: Practical, community-based support grounded in real-life challenges.
– Aim: Align home support with classroom learning to improve student outcomes.
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