School enrolment has dropped by 22 per cent since the 2014-15 period, revealed Minister of Education Kay McConney yesterday.
Speaking during her presentation yesterday in Parliament, she said overall the enrolment was down even though there had been an increase in some parts of St Philip and Christ Church. However, there were marked decreases in St Lucy and other parishes, she said.
“Barbados had less persons enrolling in schools and when we look at what is also happening with our population, we are not reproducing at a fast rate. It says to us that there are less and less persons – certainly when we start calculating when these students will leave school – we are recognising that with 22 per cent less enrolment we have taken a hit in our human capital and in our labour force,” McConney said.
The minister said education reform therefore had to go far beyond the Common Entrance Examination as there was also under performance in some areas, disengagement by males and lower levels of certification. (AC)
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