Please click here to download the requirements, rules & guidelines, criteria, evaluation and registration form for the Modern School Infrastructure Design Competition.
The first step to achieving a modern school infrastructure as part of Government’s Education Transformation has commenced with the launch of the Modern School Infrastructure Design Competition.
And Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, is calling all registered architects (group or individuals) to “stand up and show what you are capable of” and produce creative and innovative designs to modernise nursery, primary, secondary, and special needs school plants across the island.
The top three finalists in each category will be awarded a cash prize of $20,000.
Speaking during the official launch of the competition in the Media Resource Centre’s Conference Room on Friday, Ms. McConney said she was extremely delighted to be leading the Ministry at this time of transformation, and described the launch as a moment that would “change the face of schools in this country” and represented the start of a new chapter in the provision of sustainable and resilient schools in Barbados.
The Minister stressed that schools have ‘looked the same way” for over 50 years and there was a need to bring creativity and innovation to a new look school plant of the 21st century.
“The intention is that we will be designing sustainable school infrastructure for tomorrow and we will be integrating creativity and collaborating across different perspectives, ultimately enabling us to attain our objectives under education transformation. Architects, you play a very critical role in this endeavour. You are excellent at your craft, and we expect you to submit building design concepts that feature better environmental performance, allowing for more naturally ventilated spaces that optimises shade and wind flow. We want you to incorporate energy efficient solutions and to design infrastructure and spaces that are accessible and can effectively support the needs of our learners and our special educational needs of those persons with disabilities.
“We want you to think water conservation…. We want you to think about how we can use the indoor and outdoor spaces, recognising that we are at a time in the climate of this world where we need to make sure that we’re using the outdoor and indoor spaces. You will hear a lot more later as to what the specifics of the briefs will be, and I look forward to the attractive and exciting new designs that we will receive,” Ms. McConney stated.
The Minister also said that based on multiple consultations with stakeholders, greater emphasis would be placed on customising the secondary education programme to reflect a 21st century world of emerging jobs and workforce needs; streamlining the provision of special needs education; establishing a teaching service commission to support greater teacher effectiveness; and upgrading school plants, among other things.
“This effort that we’re making now [is] to create more modern and safe physical facilities to support student learning and performance and more modern overall infrastructure that includes not just the physical parts of the school, but their surroundings, their beautification, and all that will make up the school experience. As we seek to modernise, … it is not just Barbados who recognises that we need to do significant work. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO, the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and other development partners have all recognised the need for this, and we, as Barbados, need to be a part of the world that is seeking to move forward,” she stated.
Also addressing the launch were Minister of Planning and Development and Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for coordinating Infrastructural Projects, Dr. William Duguid; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer Bradshaw; Advisor on Infrastructure Projects in the Prime Minister’s Office, Daniel Best; Director of the National Heritage Department and Competition Evaluation, Steve Devonish; and President of the Barbados Institute of Architects, Kevin Browne.