Barbados education ministry assures elections will not displace students sitting exams

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Apr 27, CMC – The Barbados government says “all steps” have been taken to ensure students will not be placed at a disadvantage when writing examinations that coincide with the May 24 general election.

After months of speculation, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on Thursday announced that the general election will be held on Thursday, May 24 with Nomination day scheduled for May 7.

But the leader of the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley, who welcomed the announcement, said that the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) would need to explain to the population the decision to name the date for the polls on the day school children were writing the important Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams.

“He has had five years to set a date for the elections, it is, therefore, regrettable that he has chosen that date that conflicts with the examinations being taken by our children on both nomination day and election day".

“The Prime Minister and the government need to explain to the country as soon as possible what arrangements will be put in place to minimise this anxiety… this is nothing more than a royal fumble,” Mottley said.

Many schools also serve as polling stations during general elections.

But, in a statement, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation said it wanted to outline the measures being taken to ensure that students were not placed in jeopardy for the exams.

It said all external examinations will take place as previously scheduled and will be administered in strict compliance with the regulations and procedures of the respective examining bodies.

“Candidates are, therefore, required to report early to their respective examination centres as specified on their timetables,” the statement said, urging "all candidates to carefully follow the instructions that will be issued by the Supervisor of Examinations at each centre".

“This is very important since there will be special arrangements to be implemented at each centre to facilitate the entrance, controlled movement and exit of candidates and other examination officials during the day’s examination period".

“The Ministry wishes to assure the public and candidates that all steps have been taken to ensure safe and secure conditions for the administration of all examinations so that no candidate will be disadvantaged as a result of any events on that date. “

The Ministry of Education said it was looking forward to the “cooperation of all parties involved in the writing and administration of examinations on Thursday, May, 24”.

The Barbados Parliament was dissolved over a month ago, and earlier this week Mottley, who is seeking to become the first woman to head a government, in a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Stuart said the BLP was ready for general elections.

In the last general election of 2013, the ruling DLP won 16 of the 30 seats with the remainder going to the BLP.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1 (876) 449-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.