Exploring the Issue with the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) and the Need for Reform

There is nothing wrong with the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE), says educator Jeff Broomes.

The problem, he added, was how it was being used.

The retired secondary school principal and consultant was one of the guests on Starcom Network’s Brass Tacks Sunday radio call-in programme yesterday discussing education reform.

“They keep talking about this Class 4 exam but there is nothing wrong with a primary school exit exam. There are exams at the end of Class 1 to 4 [in primary schools] and exams at the end of first form to fifth form [in secondary school], so why is that one being targeted? It is not the exam; stop talking about the exam itself and start talking about what it is used for,” he said.

Broomes said he agreed no single examination should determine a child’s future but the actual exam was not the problem.

Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, who was also part of yesterday’s panel, said she agreed no “one-shot” examination should be so important as if a child was sick on that day, he or she could fail the exam and end up attending a school they did not wish to attend. (CA)