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SOURCE: BarbadosToday- Prime Minister Mia Mottley has strongly criticised the practice of expelling students from school at age 16, describing it as “nonsense” and calling for an end to it.
Speaking at the Ideas Forum in St Joseph on Tuesday evening, she demanded immediate reform.
“Even the ones that are giving trouble — we’ve asked the Chief Education Officer to talk to the principals and let us get them to go back to school in uniform; stop sending people out of school at 16 in the middle of the school year,” the prime minister said. “It is nonsense. I said it when I was Minister of Education, and I’m horrified to hear that it is happening again. Stop it!”
Mottley also proposed a structured alternative for at-risk youth, suggesting that the Barbados Defence Force or the Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps collect students from school and engage them in disciplined, purpose-driven programmes throughout the day.
“We cannot send them out to sit on the block,” she stressed. “If you have youngsters who can train to be the best across any discipline — even surfing — let us know. The government will find a way to finance it.”
Her remarks extended beyond education and pointed to the vital role of community support in nurturing talent.
“I want us to practise the art of followership,” she said. “If you’re not a good follower, you cannot have good leaders among you . . . .”
On the subject of gun violence, the Prime Minister warned of growing regional threats, referencing moves in other Caribbean nations toward gun legalisation. She denounced the glorification of firearms, linking it to video game culture and desensitisation to death.
“A gun does not walk, a gun does not talk. It has one purpose — to kill or to maim,” she said. “People think it’s sexy — they’ll soon understand it’s fatal.”
She urged parents to be vigilant, pointing out that the signs often appear at home first.
“You’re the one that’s going to know when your child comes home with a big gold chain you know you didn’t buy for him,” Mottley said. “Ask who gave it to him. Same for your daughter.”
Reinforcing that this is not a partisan issue, the prime minister called on citizens across political and social lines to unite.
“This is not a political call. This is a call for Barbados,” she declared. “Be a member of a team — not a gang . . . . We must be ready to stand up and step up.”
“Same way you keep your home, you have a responsibility as a Bajan to keep up the house of Barbados.”
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This Lady, this Leader, this Caribbean Icon, does not mince her words. The idea of kicking a teenager out of school, one of their places of learning, is preposterous. Yet it happens all the time.
Here She is, Prime Minister of Barbados, and no, I am not a Bajan, The Hon. Mia Mottley coming up with suggestions. All students will not be academic, some will be artisans, some will be hands-on learners. We need school counsellors who can identify where these children’s skills lie and propose avenues to harness those skills to their benefit and the benefit of the nation.
Some children may not be good at, let us say mathematics, but they love let’s say sports. Incorporate sports into the teaching of mathematics. Or let us say a young girl seems to be drifting but is very talented in designing clothes, she should be given courses in design with mathematics. Almost everything we do in life, has a mathematical input. I am sure, we would have less accidents if some drivers could mentally calculate angles and rate of speed.
I say kudos to Madam Prime Minister Mottley.
Yes.. Joan…until one of those same teenagers strike one of your children causing bodily harm, hope you will sing the same hymn. Its all well and good to have ALL the extra activities and plans, BUT…some teenagers DO NOT want to be a part of that. PERIOD!
Very deep….. much to ponder on….