Barbados launches education reform, backed by World Bank

Barbados is taking major steps to strengthen early education and equip students with the skills needed for future jobs, with support from the World Bank.

The Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$50 million program aimed at improving foundational learning in pre-primary and primary education, as well as expanding access to climate-resilient and inclusive learning environments. The initiative will be implemented by the Ministry of Education Transformation.

The island nation has long invested heavily in education, allocating roughly 4.9 percent of its Gross Domestic Product to the sector—comparable to high-income countries and well above regional averages. Yet challenges remain: foundational deficits in numeracy and literacy emerge as early as primary school, with 2023 data showing that 30 percent of students scored below acceptable levels in mathematics on end-of-primary exams.

The new Barbados Education Sector Transformation Program aims to address these gaps through targeted literacy and numeracy initiatives, strengthened teacher training, and improved assessment systems to better track student progress. The program will also enhance early childhood education, upgrade school infrastructure to be climate resilient and energy efficient, and improve digital connectivity. Special attention will be given to making schools accessible for students with disabilities.

“This program aims to ensure that a child’s starting point in life does not determine their finish line. We want to provide every Barbadian with the tools to not only participate in the global economy and human civilization, but to lead it,” said Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.

Approximately 23,000 students in public nursery and primary schools are expected to benefit directly, along with more than 1,300 teachers and school leaders who will receive professional development.

“When children have access to quality education early on, they are better prepared to adapt, innovate, and succeed in today’s rapidly changing job market. This is key for strengthening Barbados’ resilience and long-term economic prospects,” said Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Director for the Caribbean.

The program will use a Program-for-Results financing model, in which funding is released only after achieving specific, verifiable milestones. It forms part of the government’s broader Education Transformation Initiative and strategic plan to modernize learning and better prepare students for future careers.