Students taking this year’s Common Entrance Exam will probably be the last set of Barbadians who will be required to write this test.
This was revealed this morning by Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw, as she led debate on the 2020 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure in the House of Assembly.
She was responding to a question from Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Dr William Duguid, on whether her ministry had determined what system would be used to replace the controversial exam.
Moments earlier, Bradshaw had pointed out that her ministry was satisfied that much of the frustration students faced at school and then took with them into adult life, had a strong connection to the 11-plus exam.
The education minister also revealed that Government would be placing a significant emphasis on the teaching of robotics and other subjects associated with Artificial Intelligence.
She told the House that $5.65 million had been set aside in the Estimates for this purpose and all secondary schools would benefit, along with selected primary schools.
Almost $400,000 has also been set aside for improved cabling at schools, and the technological profile of these institutions will be boosted with additional computers and internet connectivity.