DEPARTMENTS

Curriculum and Assessment

The Curriculum Section comprises one Senior Education Officer and six (6) Technical Officers. There are also currently three (3) Peripatetic Teachers (P.Ts.) having responsibility for Mathematics, Physical Education and Music.

 

The National Curriculum encompasses a wide range of curricula either created by the Ministry of Education or generated by approved Examinations bodies, primarily the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) who is responsible for the CCSLC, CSEC/CVQ and CAPE level examinations.

The Curriculum Section’s goal is to operationalize the Ministry of Education’s mission statement through the development of the Curriculum. In advancing the general curriculum, there must be greater focus on developing 21st century skills and including the teaching of these subjects in the STEAM programme.

Three main goals that have been developed for this current period. These are as follows:

GOALS

Goal 1: Promote the adoption of 21st century learning skills, universal design for learning, constructivist learning strategies, formative assessment, authentic assessment and curriculum modification and adaptation in delivering new and existing syllabi.

Goal 2: Develop high quality instructional media and materials for professional development of teachers and for teachers’ use with their students.

Goal 3: Equip principals, heads of department and teacher leaders with the KSAs to effectively monitor and supervise curriculum implementation and instruction.

Mission

Developing and nurturing a cadre of educators with superior instructional skills for today’s evolving classroom, that cater to and appreciate the diverse needs of students and demands of society.

Officers monitor curricular activities in All public and private primary and secondary schools in Barbados, provide instructional support to educators in the system, facilitate necessary training and curriculum development.

Curriculum Section Basic Information on Officers

NAMEPOST / SUBJECTSEMAILTELEPHONE
Fernando CarterSEdO (C)fcarter@mes.gov.bb535-0688
Peggy AgardEdO (Modern Languages)
pagard@mes.gov.bb535-0680
Pamela HunteEdO (Science)pjvhuntesci@yahoo.com
phunte@mes.gov.bb
535-0682
Dr. Pauline MillarEdO (Language Arts)pmillar@mes.gov.bb535-0691
Wendy GriffithEdO (Mathematics)rgriffith@mes.gov.bb535-0690
Shanelle WaitheEdO (General Studies)swaithe@mes.gov.bb535-0681
Dr. Denise CharlesEdO (Arts)dcharles@mes.gov.bb535-0686
Samuel MaynardPT (Mathematics)smaynard@mes.gov.bb535-0684
Randy EastmondPT (Music)reastmond@mes.gov.bb535-0685
Janelle DennyPT (Physical Education)jdenny@mes.gov.bb535-0683
Annette BairdStenographer/Typistabaird@mes.gov.bb535-0689
Jennifer BrathwaiteAdmin Officer 1jebrathwaite@mes.gov.bb535-0856

Current Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the teaching and learning environment by shifting instruction from the traditional brick-and-mortar environment to make use of emergency remote teaching and blended learning. Essentially, teaching and learning must now operate in more versatile, malleable and dynamic “spaces”. This unearthed the need for METVT to address the following: the integration of digital technologies in different modalities, promoting the design of equitable and inclusive learning experiences, teacher adoption of constructivism and student-centred approaches and engaging school principals/teachers/ICTS in continuous professional learning and development.

In short, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for pedagogy and instruction to be at the heart of improving educational outcomes for all learners.

Schools Syllabuses

PRIMARY

The focus is on the CORE subjects of Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies.

Primary School Syllabuses

SECONDARY

The secondary schools mainly follow the suite of subjects created by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) at the CCSLC, CSEC/CVQ and CAPE levels. These syllabi are available at the CXC website, cxc.org.
Secondary School Syllabuses

Recent and Ongoing Activities

The Curriculum Section is currently working on a Civics Curriculum for Primary schools, and lower Secondary schools. Work is also ongoing on developing for Primary schools and lower Secondary schools, a Digital Literacy Curriculum, a National Music Curriculum, a new Visual Arts and a new Physical Education Curriculum.

General Studies

Upcoming Workshops

  1. Civics for Young Learners (Primary Teachers) – July 2022
  2. Civics in Action for Secondary Teachers – September 2022

 

Language Arts

  1. Summer School
    Summer School will run from July 18, 2022 to August 09, 2022 at George Lamming Primary School, Flint Hall, St Michael. This year it will serve three different categories of Class 4 students. These include deferred students, those who were unable to access devices and those who experienced significant learning loss during the closure of schools.
  2. The Literacy Project
    The Ministry of Education, Technological & Vocational Training is collaborating with The Literacy Project, a local charity established in 2017, to offer reading support for selected students in three public primary schools.
  3. BSSEE 2022
    The BSSEE English and Mathematics will take place on July 05, 2022. Primary Mental Maths Competition 2022 Wed. 02 to Thurs November 2022 and International Day of Mathematics 2023 Tues. 14 March 2022

Projected Pedagogical and Professional Activities

The Curriculum Section will continue to contribute to the ongoing Educational Reform process by:

  • Reviewing and revising syllabi in a timely manner
  • Contributing suggestions and recommendations for effective pedagogical activities in our schools
  • Identifying relevant training for both Officers and Teachers to enhance greater productivity, efficiency, improved instructional quality and improved student outcomes.
  • Creating Projects, Programmes and Initiatives that meet the goals and strategic plans of the Ministry of Education and contribute to the overall economic and social fabric of society

Resources

Mathematics

  • National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) Software
  • Key Maths 3 Diagnostic Assessment

NB: BOTH RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE EDUCATION OFFICER FOR MATHEMATICS

General Studies
Professional Learning Resources

Currently, the education system in Barbados caters to almost 60,000 students annually and across the system, there are 136 institutions designed to cater to the diverse needs of the population. Find out more.

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Address

Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training
Elsie Payne Complex
Constitution Road
St.Michael
Barbados, W.I.

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