Member of Parliament Cynthia Forde is sounding the alarm over the widespread dysfunction of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) across Barbados since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She laments that the breakdown in community engagement is leaving many of the island’s children without the support and guidance they desperately need.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of the Child Care Board’s annual Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, held at the HIV/ AIDS Commission Conference Room, Warrens Tower, Warrens, St Michael, Forde made a plea for a return to community-based support systems, which she said were once central to the social fabric of the country.
“There are too many PTAs in Barbados at all levels that are not functioning. PTAs are the base of our schools and I believe we must get back to basics.”
Forde, special adviser in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs as well as an educator, said the failure of these groups was having ripple effects far beyond the classroom. She added that PTAs can play a crucial role in helping parents and guardians develop the skills and knowledge necessary to raise disciplined, wellrounded children.
Citing her experience working with various educational and community groups, she pointed to the success of PTA structures supporting children with disabilities as an example of what was possible when families, educators and communities work together.
Village values
“A lot of our social issues stem from the breakdown of community life. We have retired teachers, nurses and other professionals just sitting at home when they could be helping to nurture the next generation,” she said.
Forde criticised the erosion of village values and communal child-rearing traditions, noting that many parents – particularly younger ones – lacked mentorship themselves and often failed to hold their children to appropriate behavioural standards.
“When I was superintendent of Sunday school, I saw it first-hand – parents accepting poor behaviour because they didn’t know any better themselves,” she recounted.
She also decried the emotional toll on children caught in parental disputes, especially in cases where
fathers were absent or access was denied due to ongoing conflict. “Too many children are in the middle of fighting and battles, and a lot of them have no manners because they’re raising themselves.”
She expressed concern about the number of children left unattended during school holidays, despite the existence of summer camps, and warned that many were struggling with basic educational skills like multiplication tables and speech development, issues that go unnoticed because of the disconnect between schools and homes.
Forde, a former Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, made clear that her call to action was not political but rooted in a desire to empower Barbadians and rebuild the discipline and community care which once defined the nation.
“If we are going to save our children and the future of Barbados, we all have to come together – retired teachers, nurses, clergy, every agency. We need to go back into the villages and give back.”
Reflecting on recent tragedies, including the killing of a schoolboy last Tuesday during extracurricular activities, Forde questioned whether other children affected by the trauma were receiving proper counselling and support. “The grief is too tremendous,” she said. “We must respond.”
Calling for a holistic, national approach, she encouraged Government ministries, civil society organisations and communities to coordinate their efforts and include willing retirees who have been overlooked.
“There are people out there who want to help, but nobody calls on them. If we can come together and brainstorm, we can save more of our Barbadian children.” (CLM)
