As countdown hours tick down to one of the most high-stakes assessments in Barbados’ primary education system, students at Bay Primary School got a much-needed dose of emotional encouragement and practical support this Thursday, when local Member of Parliament Kirk Humphrey made a special stop to prepare the cohort before their 11-plus common entrance examination next Tuesday.
Even after an unexpectedly uncomfortable morning trip to the dentist – an experience he lightheartedly called far from enjoyable – the St. Michael South representative did not reschedule his visit. He arrived bearing custom stationery kits, a small but meaningful gesture of community investment in the young test-takers’ success, and stepped into a classroom humming with a unique mix of jittery nerves and quiet excitement for the milestone ahead.
Instead of leaning on generic last-minute study tips that most students had already heard dozens of times from teachers and family members, Humphrey centered his remarks on the emotional resilience that matters most on exam day. “I know you’ve already gotten piles of advice from everyone around you, so I won’t add more,” he told the assembled students. “The only word I want to leave you with is brave. Bravery means trusting that you have the confidence to tackle anything you set your mind to, no matter how hard it looks.”
Humphrey walked students through simple, actionable strategies for managing test-day anxiety: starting the morning with a moment of gratitude or prayer, leaning on the years of structured preparation their teachers have provided, and not letting one tricky question derail their entire performance. “If you hit a question that stumps you, don’t freeze. Be brave enough to move on to the next one, and circle back when you’ve finished what you know,” he advised. “Above all, read every question slowly, take your time, and don’t rush through the paper.”
One of his core goals for the visit was dismantling the pervasive stigma that links secondary school placement to lifelong success. When he asked the room which secondary school they hoped to attend, dozens of students shouted out “Foundation!” – one of the island’s most prestigious institutions – but Humphrey was quick to reframe the narrative. He emphasized that a young person’s character, work ethic, and personal values will always shape their future more than the name of the secondary school they attend. “This one exam does not determine the rest of your life,” he insisted. “The idea that you have to get into a specific school to be successful is just not true. You can thrive at any school you attend. And I truly believe that being a good person matters more than any score you get on this test.”
Before wrapping up his remarks, Humphrey paused to honor the hard work of Bay Primary’s teaching staff, noting their consistent advocacy for their students’ needs. He highlighted the unique commitment local primary teachers show every exam cycle, when they gather outside test centers to cheer on their students before they go in to sit the paper. “The teachers here have done extraordinary work with these children over the years, and that doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said.
This cohort of test-takers holds a unique distinction: they are widely referred to as the “COVID babies,” having navigated major pandemic-related disruptions to their learning throughout their early primary school years. Class Four lead teacher Dwayne Hayde shared that while the pandemic created unforeseen learning gaps, his students have put in relentless work to catch up and build the skills they need for the exam. “I’m confident they’re as ready as they can be,” Hayde said. “Of course, as teachers we always want a little more practice time, but I genuinely believe these kids are prepared to do their best. They’ve mastered all the core concepts for math – questions change on the exam, but the fundamentals stay the same. All they need to do is identify what’s being asked and apply what they’ve learned.”
Hayde identified time management as the biggest potential hurdle for the cohort on test day, noting that many students struggle to complete all questions within the allotted window. “The biggest challenge is pacing yourself to get through everything you know in the given time,” he explained. “But if they can keep that under control, they should do well, and I hope they all get into the school of their choice.”
As the visit drew to a close, each student collected their new stationery kit, and Humphrey closed the session by leading the group in a calming deep breathing exercise, followed by a group recitation of Bay Primary’s core motto: “I will use my head, my heart, and my hands to strive for excellence.” He also made two promises to the students: he will be present outside the test center to cheer them on Tuesday morning, and he will return after results are released to celebrate all of their hard work, regardless of the outcome.