Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in conversation with Head Boy of Queen’s College, Khaleel Kothdiwala, partially hidden is Minister of Education, Santia Bradshaw.
Student leaders in schools across the island are being told they have the potential to be change agents.
That is according to Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw. She made the comments while delivering remarks during the Leadership Badge Presentation Ceremony in honour of head boys and head girls across the private and public, primary and secondary schools, held at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium yesterday morning.
Her remarks came as she said that the reports of students engaging in negative behaviour are not reflective of all the students and it is imperative that this is made known.
“Therefore it is our responsibility to work with all of you today and going forward, to make sure that you become the change agents. That you start to write a different narrative, the narrative that you would like to see not only in your schools, but in your communities, and also in your churches. And also, to see yourselves as being able to change the narrative of how people view young people, and in particular your colleagues at schools and your other students,” she said.
Minister Bradshaw made the point while noting that children have an important part to play in the efforts to transform this country.
“We also understand that we have to write a different narrative and the narrative that we must write is one which it can’t come from simply the Government of Barbados, but it requires us to have many people lifting the heavy weight as Prime Minister Mottley always says. It means that in addition to all of the private sector entities, churches, civil organisations and all of the entities that help the Government, we recognise that we cannot truly transform Barbados unless we also target our schools, in particular our primary and our secondary schools, because we see you as the future leaders of this country,” she said.
The education minister noting that the actions of today’s leaders will impact the next generation, added that if they are to live up to their mandate they have to inspire the youth to be agents of change.
“When we leave here today, I hope that all of you will recognise, not only how important we view each of you, but also that leadership does matter... We are making all best efforts to ensure that we impart on you, a better understanding of not only who you are, but also what you have to fight for as young people to be really part of a true transformational change,” she stated.
Meanwhile, delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley urged the more than 150 students present to wear their badges with pride, noting that it is vital that they recognise the importance of leadership in every aspect of society. She made the point while telling the students that “leadership is about doing the right thing”.
“We must always know the difference between right and wrong and leaders are the ones who insist that the right things be done. Managers insist on doing things right, but leaders insist on rightness... More than anything else you must have a moral compass and that moral compass must guide you throughout life, whether you end up living in Barbados, in the Caribbean, or somewhere else in the world,” PM Mottley said. (JRT)