(The Nation) Bridgetown, Barbados:

OPPOSITION Member of Parliament, Gline Clarke, says Barbados is not suited for sixth forms. He was speaking to the Lower Chamber during a debate on Friday on a resolution to grant $55 million to supplement the 2008-2009 Estimates. It is understood that a portion of that sum would be designated to the development of the educational system.

"Not all schools need to be a sixth form," he said. "I thought we were gone away from the sixth form from when we opened the Barbados Community College [and] that we were supporting a more technical curriculum and soon, and not go back to a sixth form."

He said the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic's model was more suited for Barbados as it was more skill-oriented.

The St George North MP also called on Government to reassess the quality of education.

"There are a number of free programmes being offered to schools. You have free school meals, free bus fares, free textbooks, and the list goes on and on. But there needs to be an assessment done as to the relationship between the free education programme and what we are getting for it.

"Government has done a lot . . . but we talk about our declining standards. So a lot has to be done in looking at our entire school system," he said.

Additionally, he said the assessment should also include revamping the current curriculum "to fit the reality of the world today", including studies like money management and the relationship between Government and the people.