Barbados Education System Poised for Transformation to Meet Global Demands

Barbados is on the cusp of transforming its education system to meet the demands of the technology-driven, globally competitive economy, according to Dr Colin Cumberbatch, Principal of Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.

Speaking at the college’s graduation ceremony on Sunday under the theme Empowering Educators for Tomorrow’s Reality, Dr Cumberbatch emphasised: “As teachers, we must prepare present and future students for all realities. When one considers that students in our schools today are being prepared for a world of work and jobs which may not presently exist, it forces a rethink of how we approach teaching and teacher education.”

He said that to meet the demands of the new global citizen, the college “has adjusted its vision and mission to focus strategically on the development of effective teachers and leaders capable of facilitating the development of this type of student and citizen”.

This shift will be facilitated through partnerships with well-established educational institutions, supporting transformative capacity-building opportunities and services for educators and stakeholders. “The transformation of our education system cannot be an option, it must be a mandate,” he declared.

Valedictorian Tiffany Grimes, one of 23 students to pursue the postgraduate diploma in special education, said: “Transformation in education often does not occur as a single sweeping change but rather as a series of incremental yet impactful improvements . . . . As our island pursues educational reform, let us remain adaptable and committed to greatness.”

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training Sandra Husbands welcomed the many special education graduates: “Our society is seeking to be inclusive so every single person can be included in the social and economic activity of our nation. The only way we can do that is if we broaden and increase the number of teachers that we have in special education.”

The featured speaker, Professor Christopher Emdin of Columbia University, urged graduates: “If you see a broken system before you, imagine a system that does not yet exist

. . . . Trust what drove you to choose to teach to begin with.”

He declared: “You are those who will teach those who will inherit the Earth. You are those who will imagine the future not yet, but yet is … If you are somebody’s ancestor and miss the mark, you betray your legacy.”