Barbados spends half billion dollars on education

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Right~~ BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – THE Barbadian government is spending a half billion dollars annually to educate the nation’s children and is currently exploring the possibility of expanding tertiary education in the north of the island.

According to Caribbean Net News, Prime Minister David Thompson announced that he was committed to addressing the lack of access to tertiary education.

“I know that people have been complaining about the lack of tertiary level education in the northern parishes. The option under consideration includes using existing facilities during the evening and on the weekend to hold classes for students that are close to their homes. Now that we have the technology to run courses by distance education, taking education to the people should not be difficult,” he remarked.

Thompson also revealed the government’s plans to keep Barbadians employed, noting the administration had decided to spend money on building infrastructure that is required for development.

“We are also developing enterprises based on creativity and innovation. Therefore, most of our people have to be engaged in activities in which they have an expertise.

“If our education system and our cultural policy and our outlook as a society can draw out that creativity at an early age then we will have a better nation and our education system would not be as boring as it is for many of young people,” stressed Thompson.

He also called for all professions to be treated equally and pointed out that money could be made from activities such as plumbing, dancing and singing.