Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, believes that Barbados’ education system must be transformative and fit for purpose for 21st century realities, if this country is to evolve with the rapidly changing world.
Mr. Blackman expressed this view on Tuesday at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College’s graduation ceremony, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael.
He said: “The education system that we’ve all passed through in one way or the other, particularly over the last 50 years, is now on a journey to transform … in this country. And why is it important? ….
“We’re competing against those in Asia, in Europe, North America, in Africa, and if our country is to keep pace and enjoy the development that we’ve had over the last 60 years or so, it means that the education system must also change with it.”
The Minister told the graduates that they are charged with the responsibility of transforming the pedagogy of teaching and inspiring a generation of young people who will not remain students forever but will one day aspire to be teachers, politicians, musicians, architects, and designers.
“Government places significant…importance on ensuring that you have the tools to take us to the next journey…and that is why the Ministry of Educational Transformation, working with our sister Ministry, has determined within the next seven years that our education system must not be number four, or number five, or number six, or number three, or number two, but to be number one in the world.”
Stating that he and his Ministry understand the need for change and change management and are embracing the concept of holistic education, he said the world is keeping pace at a rapid speed, and the teaching profession must follow suit.
“You as the teachers, as the ultimate beneficiaries of that training, both who are already in the system, and those who are coming into the system, will make sure that this generation has all the tools necessary to be the best in the world.
“So that when people see a Barbadian student, they know, that is a Bajan…how they walk, how they talk, how they think, how they analyse, the confidence that they have, equally underscored by humility…and that is really the task,” he stated.
Emphasising that the graduation ceremony represents a proud moment for Barbados, Minister Blackman told the educators: “This is what partnerships and tangible partnerships ought to look like and feel like.
“The beneficiaries are not just you, the teachers, yes, you’re the principal beneficiaries, but the students and generations to come must benefit from what you’ve learned over the last year.”
