The Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) apology for its controversial survey administered to schoolchildren will not be enough to satisfy the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT).
President of the BUT Rudy Lovell said that it’s not for the IDB to issue a statement on the matter but the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training.
The survey, part of the Code Caribbean project was administered by a United States-based organisation code.org which promotes the learning of computer science in schools. It was given to first formers on Monday at three secondary schools, which parents said contained inappropriate and invasive questions. It asked questions such as: Do you think about sex a lot? Do you purposely try to harm yourself? Do you think about killing yourself? and Do you do drugs?
Lovell is of the view that ” IDB is not responsible for education in Barbados, so essentially that apology would not suffice.”
He said “these things would affect the morale of students of the schools and as such the ministry needs to respond to this immediately,” Lovell said.
However, President of the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary (BAPPS) Stephen Jackman, told Nation News that the ministry met with secondary school principals this morning and he is satisfied with the outcome.
“We are happy that the ministry has listened to the stakeholders and has withdrawn the questionnaire and will do a thorough investigation,” he said. (AL)
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