Barbados

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Barbados is a small state of the Commonwealth and the most eastern of the Caribbean islands, with a population of just over 281,000 (World Bank, 2022).

COL’s work in Barbados is primarily in the areas of higher education through the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) network, teacher education, skills for work and technology-enabled learning. Learners from Barbados are also participating in COL’s free online courses and benefitting from other openly available resources.

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-64 years old¹
96.9%		95.2%
Female (2016)		Male (2016)

Completion rate, lower secondary education for the school year ending in 2017¹
99.1%		98.9%
Female		Male

Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education¹
n/a		n/a
Female		Male

Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications in secondary education¹
52.7%		48.8%
Female (2021)		Male (2021)

1. UNESCO Institute for Statistics Data Centre, retrieved in May 2023

Highlights

National programme to scale upskilling launched, based on the success of COL’s Workforce Recovery Programme.
Two TVET institutions have developed institutional strategies and action plans for open and distance learning (ODL).

Partners

Partnerships are fundamental to COL’s work. Strategic partnerships allow COL to broaden its reach and engage at global, regional and national levels, while implementation partners support COL’s work in communities and institutions across Commonwealth Member States. Partners include multilateral organisations, regional bodies, national governments, government agencies, foundations, civil society organisations, public and private (not-for-profit) institutions and the private sector. COL partnerships assist in improving and extending teaching and learning services to people in the developing Commonwealth.

COL’s partners in Barbados include:

Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training
Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations
Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA)
Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
Erdiston Teachers’ Training College
University of the West Indies Open Campus

Key Contacts

Focal Point

Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw
Chief Education Officer
Ministry of Educational Transformation

Notable Mention

Dr Luz Marina Longsworth, COL Honorary Fellow

The late Sir Roy Marshall, member of COL’s Founding Board of Governors

Senator the Honourable Kay S. McConney, former member of COL Board of Governors

Prof Hazel Simmons-McDonald, former Honorary COL Adviser

Dr Joel Warrican, former COL Chair (Open Campus Barbados, University of the West Indies)

Literacy rate (2014)¹
99.6%		99.6%
Female, Adult (15+)		Male, Adult (15+)

Economic Activity – Labour Forces Participation (2019)¹
73.8%		78.6%
Female, 15-64		Male, 15-64

Political Decision Making (2022)¹
32.9%
Share of seats held by women in national parliament

Life expectancy (2023)¹
77.7		74.3
Female		Male

1. COL gender country profile October 2023

86	110
Individuals using the internet (%)¹	Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants¹

36	67
Fixed-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants¹	Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants¹




1. International Telecommunication Union (ITU), retrieved in May 2023.

Barbados

Highlights

Partners

Key Contacts

Focal Point

Notable Mention

More Information

News

Reports

Publications and Resources

Country Data Sources