Barbados is taking bold steps to inspire the next generation of innovators through its national robotics competition, ‘Battle of the Bots.’ Launched in partnership with the Barbados Light and Power Co. Ltd., the initiative aims to cultivate a future-ready generation capable of addressing global challenges through technology. Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman emphasized the importance of empowering young minds to lead in innovation and technological development. ‘My challenge to you is to see yourselves as the creators of the next wave of technology that can solve global problems, starting from Barbados,’ Blackman stated during the event’s launch. He highlighted the government’s commitment to educational reform, which goes beyond infrastructure improvements and resource provision. ‘Our transformation agenda is about preparing young people to lead the world,’ he added. Blackman also noted Barbados’ leadership in global discussions on sustainability and financial reform, urging the youth to compete on an international stage. Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw described the competition as part of a broader movement to revolutionize education through technology. Since 2021, approximately 733 teachers and nearly 4,700 students have been trained in robotics and coding, fostering a dynamic learning environment. ‘This is about engaging students in real-life problem-solving through project-based learning,’ she explained. The competition has expanded this year, with 26 primary school teams participating in the preliminaries. Sixteen primary and eight secondary school teams will advance to the finals, scheduled for December 2 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.