From left: Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS), Alissandra Cummins; President of the BMHS, Sir Trevor Carmichael; and Chair of Publications and Public Programming Committee, Dr. Henderson Carter, launching the BMHS 2017 Lecture Series.
THE Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS) 2017 Lecture Series will zero in on the evolution of the educational system in Barbados.
Under the theme, “Without an Education in Your Head… You are Better Off Dead: The Evolution of The Educational System in Barbados – Challenges and Opportunities”, the annual series kicks off March 14 at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed at 7:15 p.m., with Retired Deputy Principal, UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Pedro Welch, speaking on “The Challenges and Contribution of the Private Schools Since 1950”.
Yesterday, during the launch held at BMHS, Chair of Publications and Public Programming Committee, Dr. Henderson Carter, said this year’s focus is within the context of Barbados as a leader in education for many years.
“This country is known for its 98 per cent literary rate. It is also known for its excellent access to education at all levels – nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary.
“Barbados as you know has ‘exported’ teachers and principals, not only in the region but throughout the world. We have a very high number of trained graduates and our educated society attracts businesses to our shores. But more important, education provides the human resource capital that drives development in Barbados – both in the private and public sectors,” he stressed.
“So, Barbados has been known throughout the years as having a very important educational sector, a well-developed educational sector, and we believe that it is important at this stage to zero in on the historical developments that have taken place so far.”
Dr. Carter also revealed that the lecture series, which runs for seven weeks, will focus on the challenges faced over the years. “It is not only a historical synopsis of education, but we are focusing on challenges and opportunities,” he said.
President of the BMHS, Sir Trevor Carmichael, also recognised that education has been a key component in the development of Barbados.
He observed that education and the early education in Barbados has been linked to its churches and church systems and that those churches and church systems also continued to play a significant role in Barbados’ continued growth and development.
“But, I suggest to you that education has also played a significant part in the decolonization process of this country. I go further and I suggest that the advent of free education in Barbados, was part and parcel and remains part and parcel of that decolonization and development process.
“We are delighted that the Chair has chosen the topic because we see education as a key component in that process of which the Museum is a significant part,” Sir Trevor added. (TL)