There is a major plan afoot to ensure that Barbadian school children speak Standard English.
According to Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Dr. Wendy Griffith-Watson, the Ministry will be placing greater emphasis on language building within the island’s schools.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Olga Millar Nursery School, at Six Roads, St. Philip, Dr. Griffith Watson revealed that “the Ministry will be relentless in its drive to have children speak Standard English.”
She stressed that the new government nursery school would be “one where Standard English is used to communicate.” Dr. Griffith-Watson also urged parents to play an active role in the Ministry’s thrust towards improving language.
“Parents… don’t think your children are too young to speak Standard English. I implore you to work with the school. It starts here,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Ronald Jones, urged parents to adopt a more positive attitude toward their children’s education. “Too many parents are hostile towards their children’s education. There is always time in a 24-hour day for parents or grandparents to contribute to their children’s education,” he pointed out.
Minister Jones added that Government was committed to building more nursery schools across Barbados. He explained that this will be done through a series of partnerships with the private sector and philanthropic associations.
The new Olga Millar School will officially admit pupils on Tuesday, September 2. The Principal of the School is Lucille Goddard, while the staff complement includes a senior teacher, subject co-ordinator and two teachers. The new school is part of phase two of the expansion of Nursery Education in Barbados.