The Barbados Government pays the cost of education of Barbadian students at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, this includes provision of textbooks. This strong emphasis on education has resulted in a literacy rate estimated at about 98% – one of the highest in the world.
Primary education begins at age 4 and continues until age 11, when students sit the Common Entrance Examination. There are 74 Government primary schools, as well as several privately-run primary schools.
Secondary education is provided for children aged 11 to 18 years. At age 16, students sit the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations – the equivalent of GCE O-Levels. At about age 18, those students who continue at school can sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Certificate (A-Level) also set by CXC. Most Government secondary schools (of which there are 23) are co-educational. There are also several private secondary schools.

Cricket is the national sport of Barbados and the West Indies. Thousands of Barbadians, other West Indians and visitors flock to world-class matches at Kensington Oval, Barbados to watch batsmen of the calibre of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul as well as fast bowlers such as Tino Best and Pedro Collins.
Barbados is one of the international capitals of cricket and always contributes a large contingent to the West Indies team. Names like Sir Garfield Sobers, the three W’s, Wes Hall, the late Keith Boyce, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge and David Allen come to mind immediately as Barbadians who have contributed greatly to West Indies cricket. Current players include Ian Bradshaw and Corey Collymore.
You can catch a good game of cricket almost any time in Barbados. It could be an international Test Match or One-Day at Kensington Oval, an exciting local First Division match, or a friendly game on the beach, an open pasture or village field. Whichever it is, prepare to cheer as the batsman drives through the covers for four, or as the middle stump gets rocked back by a fast delivery! And at the end of the match join in the joyous celebrations that follow!