Thinking About Schools

As the time draws closer for us to relocate, I began researching schools that may be suitable for my daughter to attend. I find myself worrying about how this change of enviroment, home and school will affect my six year old daughter. And it is no use you all saying how quickly they adapt, as it does nothing to alleviate my fears. So during my research I found that the examination system in Barbadian schools is basically the same as the ones that apply in UK schools. The school year is divided into three terms which run from September to December, January to April and April to July. Education is broken down into 4 levels. From the ages of three to five, children are in nursery education, from the ages of 5 – 11 they are in primary education and from the ages of 11-16 they are in secondary education although they have the option to continue beyond the age of 16. Even at primary level students learn the usual range of subjects as well as Spanish, social studies, moral and religious education and visual arts. There is an entrance exam at 11 for secondary schools and then exams at 16 that are held in a wide variety of subjects. This can lead to University either in Barbados itself or the UK or USA or skill based vocational studies. The high rate of literacy proves that the system is successful. Ironically Scholarships are awarded for pupils to study in the United Kingdom and Caribbean institutions. The Barbados branch of the University of the West Indies is situated at Cave Hill and the government pays the fees of Barbadian students who are enrolled there. Barbados also has special schools for the deaf, blind and mentally handicapped and this includes two residential institutions for the disabled. There are also facilities to integrate special needs children into main stream schools. Government schools provide meals at low cost and also provide children with free textbooks on loan. I currently pay UK£9 a week for my daughter to be able to have hot school meals and as far as I can tell it will cost around a BD$1 a week in Barbados (around 33pence UK). The Barbados School Meals Program (BSMP) was established in 1963 when the Government of Barbados thought it necessary that primary school children be served a hot meal.