In the face of the economic downturn, Rodney Prescott, the principal of the Windsor School of Business and Arts, has been forced to change his approach to the delivery of education in order to keep his school viable.
With the roll on the decline and no financial assistance from the Ministry of Education, Prescott made a decision to develop a more varied offering, including business subjects, to attract new students.
Speaking from his Quarry Road, Bank Hall, St Michael office, Prescott said Windsor, which his father founded close to 50 years ago, had been hard hit by the economic crunch. He admitted that the school, which caters mainly to non-nationals, lost many students when the Guyanese population began to move out of Barbados in 2007.
“We had to become creative,”?he said. “We were faced with financial problems and low numbers but we still had to continue to provide a safe, wholesome environment for our students and come up with programmes which are market ready . . . .”
As a result, Prescott went back to the drawing board and decided that in addition to the nine CXC academic subjects he would introduce a business certificate to the curriculum which would involve six subjects. These include customer relations and sales and four Microsoft specialist certificates.
“We had to do things differently than the public schools. We are the only school which now combines professional courses with normal academics. The introduction to business is intended to make the student confident, comfortable and competent to tackle the world of work.”
In addition, students will be exposed to six-month job attachments with various businesses which Prescott believes will afford them invaluable knowledge and hands on experience.
He also plans next year to introduce the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) management of business associate degree.
Pointing out that the school now had a roll of between 100 and 140 – down from three years ago when it was 210 – the principal said that despite the financial problems the education of the students and the desire to keep his 15 teachers employed were still his main focus.
“As private schools we always have to prove ourselves,” he said.
Prescott said he was among those who encouraged the Ministry of Education to remove the name bursary which was attached to the private schools which students who did not pass the 11 plus examination could attend. “There was a stigma attached to referring to us as bursary schools. We see ourselves as alternate learning institutions,” he said.
Another change which the school has made is to prepare students to take CXC?exams from 14 years old as opposed to 16. Prescott said his school was now enjoying a 70 per cent pass rate.
“The students I get are not necessarily from the better off in society but we can’t write them off because of that. We have an advantage in that we have small numbers and flexibility.
And for the past few years he has been focusing on expanding the physical building to provide more comfort and room for students who range in ages from four to 18.
The school boasts an impressive media room, spacious classrooms, library and many other amenities.
Prescott said he had been able to get corporate sponsorship from businesses such as Cable and Wireless, Sandy Lane hotel, the Variety Club and recently Preconco.
“It is very difficult financially but I am not going to throw up my hands and give up . . . . We cannot expect government to bail us out. As a youngster growing up in Chapman Lane, when I talked to the fellas on the block, I?realized that they were in that situation because of a lack of education. The only way we can move forward as a people is through education. We have to develop innovative thinkers,” he said.
