nikkie09

HELLO,
Ive been reading this site for a week now , its very interesting, but everyone goes on about private schools , whats wrong with the state schools,i m considering moving over next year and i think personaly i would want my child to go to state school to mingle with the true barbadians,i know they may be stricter, and as some have stated not as good as the private, but not all of us can afford the amounts needed to send our children to a private school, now my son who is 9 ,hes quite clever, and i think if a child has that anyway they will do well no matter where they go to school,as long as were as helpful as we can be at home ,then i dont see a problem,some children who go to private school also dont do well as thats the way they are.anyway if anyone can help with this ie as to why you shouldnt send a child to state school [ the pros and cons]than please help ,,, look forward to hearing ,,thanks

Lindi2

Hi Nikki

I agree with most of what you say, but at the end of the day it comes down to choice.

My husband and I decided to put our daughter in private school here in the UK right from primary because we wanted to give her the best education we could, and if we moved to Barbados next year we would wish to continue with an Independent school. She's in year 6 now and there are 10 kids in her class! As far as mixing with other kids, she goes to outside activities 5 nights out of 7 and knows more kids there than she does at the school, so that isn't a problem.

Yes you are right it is expensive especially in the UK, but we go on holiday every 2 years instead of annually and we cut back on other things. For us it was the right choice and we have no regrets as she is doing really well.

I was talking to a British lady in Barbados last year who's two kids had gone to a state school in Barbados, both kids were bright and did really well at the school. She said that if she had to do it all over again she would send the kids to private school, and the reason being that for the 5 years or so that the kids were at the school she didnt make a one friend amongst the school Mums, they really didn't want to know.

I'm sure that isn't the case for all the schools and I'm sure there are many expats who have had good experiences.

L

nikkie09

HI , AND THANKYOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE, ITS NOT THAT I WOULDNT SEND MY SON TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL, ITS JUST THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, IM VERY MUCH FOR FAMILY TIME AND I LIKE TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH MY CHILDREN, SO THEM HAVEING SO MANY AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES TAKES THAT ROLE AWAY FROM ME, YES WE LIKE TO SOCIALISE WITH OTHERS AND SO DO OUR CHILDREN, I HAVE A 20 YEAR OLD WHO WENT TO STATE SCHOOL OVER HERE AND HAS DONE EXTREMELY WELL, HES NOW STUDYING TO BE A DOCTER, SO ALL I WAS TRYING TO SAY WAS THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE CHILD NOT ALLWAYS THE SCHOOL, I MAY DECIDE TO ENLIST MY CHILD INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL YET I DONT KNOW THAT UNTILL I GET OUT THERE, IM AN OUTGOING PERSON ,I WILL MAKE FRIENDS ,, I HAVE FAMILY OVER THERE SO THAT WILL HELP ,IM ALSO VERY FRIENDLY, I WONT BE GOING OUT THERE WITH ALOT OF MONEY, WERE GOING OUT THERE TO WORK[HARD] AND GIVE OUR CHILDREN A NICE BARBADOS LIFE, I INTEND ON STAYING THERE FOR EVER, AND I WAS JUST SAYING THAT I WANT MY CHILDREN TO MINGLE WITH ALL KINDS INCLUDING THE BARBADIANS,I HOPE I DIDNT COME OVER AS RUDE AS IT WASNT MENT,NIKKIE

Lindi2

Hi Nikki, you didn't come accross as rude at all, and I do understand where you're coming from and agree with the majority of what you say.

You are lucky that your kids are very bright, my daughter is average and I truly believe she is doing better in a private school as the class sizes are much smaller and the teacher can give her and the other kids individual attention. Like you, we help her with her homework in the evenings and she is given the opportunity to do all the things she loves like musical theatre, dance and karate after school.

I think when you start looking for schools in Barbados and go visit them, you will know which one is right for your children. Good luck

L

nikkie09

thankyou for your help , it has been much appreciated, and i will do that , once i get there ill look and decide.thankyou for your help,,nikkie

afish

I've seen some old threads on here that talk about some of the state schools on the island. From what I've heard a lot of the state schools are better than the private schools. Worth having a look back over some old threads.

nikkie09

thankyou i will do , which title was it on please..thankyouagain,,,nikkie

afish

I couldn't tell you, you'll need to search back and have a read. It would have been from the past few months, not years which should help! Sorry I can't give you a more definitive answer.

Sunniebgi

where do I begin.

Govt vs private - .. I can't actually say one is better than the other.. it simply is a matter of choice. Your statement about mingling with true barbadians is (I will say this) offending, because the majority of children at these private schools are true Barbadians, both white and black true Barbadians. . they are not expats just trying to go to a private school, but they are born and raised Barbadians. There familes come from all walks of life - from teachers, to mechanics, to accountants to Doctors to craftsman.. just like you will find in any and all of the govt schools and all over the world.

The mind set will be different at a govt school, because .. well basically, it is felt that the govt should provide for everthing in the govt school, while at the private schools many things are provided by the parents. You will be asked to contribute more at a private school, both in volunteer hours as well as money towards PTA fundraisers and school functions. This will happen at Govt schools, but there will be more of a "cry to govt" for funding etc.

The teachers are part of the same teachers union, and all, except for The Codrington School, follow the Ministry of Education Curriculum for both primary and secondary education.

I wouldn't say the govt schools are any better or worse in terms of education but each child is different as is each school. St. Gabriel's and St. Winifreds traditionally finish in the tops for the 11plus, but they do that right along side govt schools such as Luther Thorne and Charles F. Broome. But you will also be in competition to get into those govt schools and would have to apply to them just like you would to a private school. Location, familes, teachers etc, all play a part in whether a school is good in terms of education and learning, but also in terms of a great environment for your child. This can be said anywhere in the world.

in terms of fees, you get what you pay for, as they say.. but in general the average cost for a private primary school is about BBD$1500.00/USD$750.00 for a terms fees. thats approx 12-16 weeks of learning. You can't pay that little money in the US for your 4 year old to go to a nursery school. For some it is alot, but the schools are willing to work with families re their school payments. The exceptions to these costs are Providence and Codrington and specifically at Codrington, while there are Barbadian Children there (and I do know a few), most of the children are from ex-pat families who's plans are only to be in Barbados for a short time and they are looking for the IB program rather than the Barbados Curricullum.

Your child is clever, he will survive no matter where he goes.. but Barbadian Children are pushed to excel, expecially in primary school, so they can get into one of the "better" Govt Secondary schools. (Harrison, Queens, St. Michael's, Combermere, Foundation). if he will be 10 when you arrive here, he will have to sit the 11plus and this exam is taken very seriously around here. (which is must unfortunate, but that is a whole other subject). expect to send him to extra lessons, even if you don't think he needs it.

Soo.. I'm not going to try to encourage you to go either way.. public or private, but I would recommend that you contact the ministry of education to see what you have to do to get your child into a government primary school.

Just so you know.. my husband is Barbadian, born and raised. Went to govt school from start to finish.. earned a Barbados Exhibition (partially paid by the government University Education). His brother before him was a Barbados Scholar (fully paid university education). both have chosen a private primary school education for their children. Secondary is a whole other subject.

nikkie09

hello and thankyou , thats the most hohnest thing ive heard, as in straite to the point on both sides, i also understand that most children in private schools are barbadian also, i just wanted people to tell me why private schools to them was better than state,looking back at my statement i suppose does look quite bad and hohnestly it wasnt ment,we will be coming over like i said with not alot of money so not knowing what the wages are[ as im trying to find out but getting nowhere] will determine where my sons will go,, my children are my life as they are to everyone but if means arnt there ,then all i really wanted to know is wheres the best state school? i know i will have to apply,and of course if i can afford to send my son to a private school i would,as almost everyone would but i dont see whats wrong with state schools,thats what i was getting at,and i couldnt find anything out about them on here it was all about private schools, everything i said in that statement wasnt ment in a them and us way , i just put it wrong, sorry if this offended you,,do you know where i will find out how much a qualified welder/fabricator/supervisor earns ?yet again sorry for offending you all,nikkie

Sunniebgi

Nikke.. part of the reason that you mostly see talk of Private Schools on this board, is that most if not all (ok there are acceptions but few and far between) ex-pats send their children to private schools.. from start to finish.

Trust me.. I am very well acquainted with people who "don't make a lot of money" and they manage every month to send their children to private schools because that is where they would prefer them to be.. So they do what they have to do to get through the month, the term etc..

I'm sorry I can't help with wages.. While I have worked here since I moved here 15years ago, I'm out of touch with pay scales for many of the island positions.. (the job I had, I felt was grossly underpaid, but this is Barbados.. sooo...).
Contact companies such as C.O. Williams and other construction firms to see what they have or might be able to offer.

Good luck.

nikkie09

ok i will go thankyou

shines

Hi Sunnie

Just to clarify - 30% of the children at Codrington are Barbadian, both black and white.

I would say to Nikkie, come out, have a look around and see what suits your children best taking into account your finances. Schooling is always such a tough decision. You also need to take into account where you will be living also as traffic will also take a major part in your decision. e.g. whilst I would like to consider St Ursula's there is no way that I would contemplate driving over an hour to get there in the morning (then have to drive home) and again in the evening.

My daughter IS going to Codrington and we really do have very little money, I worry about it most of my waking moments but I do also know it is the best school for her, maybe not for everyone, each child is different.

So breadfruit and salt fish stew for dinner is the going staple in this house

Shines

Sunniebgi

HI Shines,

My commute in the mornings to St. Gabriel's and the Convent Schools is about 30-45min, depending on traffic.. in the afternoon it's about 20min. Much depends on the traffic, the weather etc. I have friends in St. Lucy who drive to those same schools every day. and I live in St. George, which really is nowhere to most places. there are bus shuttle services that many people are using these days, regardless of where they live, to get their children to school. Gillian's shuttle Service etc. and if we were good and proper bajans, we would put our children on the bus to get them there.

Every school is different, every child is different and ever family circumstance is different. I just cannot see, unless you plan not to stay here, or have other ideas about education, how paying even 8000.00BBD/4000.00usd per term (for a local discount, who has to tell them they are local as the starting rate is BBD12,000.00 per term, at Codrington is going to give a child a better education than less than 1500.00 per term or free.)

I am the first to admit that I'm not thrilled by the education here.. and I'm finding that Goverment Secondary TEACHERS (yes I said it) are not what they are all cracked up to be, but after being in North Carolina this summer and talking to my neice and her friend who are both teachers, I'm not so sure that the focus of education everywhere has gone drastically wrong.

shines

Hey Sunnie,

Really not wanting to get into an argument.

I do plan to stay here, my husband and my baby are both Bajan. My daughters fees are 3050 BBDS a term which is a lot I know (and yes that increases as she goes through the school). I guess I will never know if that will give her a better education than elsewhere as I won't be able to compare, I do know it will give her access to international teachers in a lot of the classes, which may make a difference.

All I do know is that for the type of child she is I feel she will do the best she can at this school, now my second daughter, who is only 10 months old, I would say would do ok anywhere as her personality is already much bolder...

As you say education everywhere is not going well, I am glad I am no longer in the Uk as I would certainly not be able to afford private tuition there and I feel a lot of the state school have lost control - again this is a generalisaton as I realise there are good and bad everywhere....

My thoughts are that maybe when my youngest daughter is ready for school I will rethink and possibly move them both elsewhere, hoping that the early education my eldest will have received will help boost her confidence.

No one ever said having children would make me worry quite THIS much...!

We can only do what we can do and hope that what we chose works out for the best.

Shines