分类： education

A new initiative aimed at removing financial barriers to equitable education access has been officially announced by Antigua’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Set to roll out for the 2026 academic year, the 2026 School Uniform Grant Programme will deliver targeted financial support to qualifying households struggling to cover the cost of mandatory school uniforms for their children.

The application window for the grant program is scheduled to open on July 13, 2026, and will remain open through a seven-week period ending on August 28 of the same year. All interested eligible applicants must submit their completed applications in person at the Antigua Multipurpose Center before the final deadline passes, with no late submissions expected to be accepted.

In a formal statement accompanying the program announcement, ministry officials outlined the dual core goals driving the initiative. First, the program is designed to guarantee that every student across the nation can step into the new academic year with the required basic materials and proper attire. Second, it seeks to ease the growing financial strain that uniform costs place on low- and middle-income households ahead of each back-to-school season.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to begin the school year with confidence,” the ministry’s statement read. “This initiative reflects our continued commitment to supporting families while investing in the education and future of our nation’s children.”

Program administrators have reiterated that all eligible applicants should prioritize submitting their applications well in advance of the August 28 closing date to avoid any last-minute processing delays. For additional questions about eligibility requirements, required documentation, or application procedures, community members can contact program staff directly at 727-2427.

On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, the Potters Primary School graduation ceremony held at the Potters Seventh-day Adventist Church became more than a rite of passage for graduating students. It served as a poignant tribute to one of the community’s most revered educators, and a public reaffirmation of the foundation established in her honor to carry forward her life’s work. The Genevieve Smith Foundation, which has supported young scholars at the school for three consecutive years, awarded four standout 2026 graduates with academic scholarships, marking the first round of awards since the passing of the foundation’s namesake and founder, Genevieve Smith – known to generations of students and community members as “Teacher Gen.”

Teacher Gen passed away on December 11, 2025, leaving behind a 50-year legacy of radical service, compassionate mentorship, and unwavering commitment to educational equity that transformed hundreds of young lives. For decades, she called Potters Primary School her professional home, where she distinguished herself not only as a rigorous and dedicated classroom educator but also as a steady source of love, guidance, and encouragement for every student who crossed her path. Beyond the walls of the school, she opened her home and her heart to scores of vulnerable children in need, fostering, raising, and nurturing dozens of young people throughout her lifetime. Her core belief – that every child, regardless of background, deserves a fair opportunity to pursue their potential – earned her deep respect and enduring affection across the entire community.

Speaking on behalf of the Smith family and the foundation at the ceremony, J’noure Smith-Kellman, Teacher Gen’s granddaughter, reflected on her grandmother’s extraordinary life and the family’s renewed commitment to advancing her vision of empowering children through accessible, quality education. She emphasized that while the 2026 scholarship cycle carries unique emotional weight as the first held after her grandmother’s passing, it has also strengthened the family’s resolve to protect and grow the work Teacher Gen built.

“This scholarship programme is our family’s way of ensuring that my grandmother’s legacy lives on,” Smith-Kellman told the gathered crowd of graduates, parents, teachers, and invited guests. “She dedicated her life to serving others, especially children, and she firmly believed that education could transform lives. Although she is no longer with us, her passion for helping young people continues through the work of the Genevieve Smith Foundation.”

She added, “While this year has been one of tremendous loss for our family, it has also strengthened our resolve to continue what she started. Every scholarship we award is a reminder that her work did not end with her passing. It lives on in every child who is encouraged to pursue excellence.”

In total, the foundation distributed 2,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars in awards this year, with four individual scholarships of 500 Eastern Caribbean dollars each recognizing students who demonstrated standout achievement aligned with Teacher Gen’s core values. The 2026 recipients included Jerzaria Hamilton, honored as the Top Female Student; Tayzhoni Murrain, named Top Male Student; Zia Roach, recognized as the Most Improved Student; and D’hanna Henry, who received the Exceptional Dedication and Potential Award.

Smith-Kellman closed her remarks by congratulating all of Potters Primary’s 2026 graduates, urging them to carry the values of hard work and resilience with them as they transition to secondary school. She also extended gratitude and congratulations to the parents, guardians, and school faculty and staff, who work collaboratively to nurture students through their primary education journey.

Today, the Genevieve Smith Foundation remains fully committed to honoring Teacher Gen’s life and legacy by investing in the educational development of young people at Potters Primary, and celebrating students who embody the values of academic excellence, resilience, kindness, and service that she modeled every day. Through its annual scholarship program, the foundation works to ensure that Teacher Gen’s remarkable, decades-long contribution to local education continues to inspire new generations of young leaders.

Officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology have extended formal congratulations to the 10 highest-achieving students across the country following the release of results for the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment, highlighting the outstanding academic rigor and consistent dedication that brought the cohort to their impressive milestones. In an official statement circulated to media and education stakeholders this Wednesday, the ministry emphasized that the standout results posted by these young learners are not accidental, but a direct reflection of months of intentional hard work, steady perseverance, strict personal discipline, and an unwavering commitment to meeting high academic standards. Beyond celebrating the students themselves, the government body also took the opportunity to acknowledge the critical behind-the-scenes support system that helped pave the way for these successes, giving public recognition to school principals, classroom teachers, and the students’ family members and guardians who offered guidance, encouragement, and resources throughout the entire primary school journey. “This outstanding achievement is a testament to your hard work, perseverance, discipline, and commitment to excellence,” the ministry noted in its official message to the honorees. “You have made your families, schools, teachers, and the entire nation proud.” Looking ahead to the next phase of the students’ academic careers, the ministry extended well wishes for continued growth and success as the group prepares to transition from primary education to secondary school, a key milestone that will set the foundation for their future professional and personal pursuits. The full list of top 10 performers, along with their affiliated institutions and special distinctions, has been released to the public alongside the official congratulatory statement. Claiming the overall top spot in the national assessment was Denushka H. Gibbs, a student at Minoah Magnet Primary School. Securing second place and the title of top-performing male student nationwide was Marlenky J. Salien of Baptist Academy of Antigua. Third place went to Necasia B. Ralph from J.T. Ambrose Primary School, who also earned recognition as the highest-scoring student from a government-run primary campus. Fourth place was awarded jointly to Ethan M. T. Lewis and O’Neil S. Henry Jr., both enrolled at Divine Academy of Excellence. Two students tied for sixth place: Riel S. Simon of Minoah Magnet Academy and Annastasia M. Aflak of St. Nicholas Primary School. Eighth place was another tie, claimed by Semaj A. C. McCoy of Baptist Academy of Antigua and Jenae Z. Lewis of Divine Academy of Excellence. Rounding out the top 10 at tenth place is Madison A. C. Williams from St. John’s Lutheran School.

Aspiring agricultural professionals and industry stakeholders in Antigua and Barbuda have received a new opportunity to advance their expertise, as the nation’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy has officially launched registration for a targeted 2026 training course focused on agricultural water management and cutting-edge irrigation technologies.

Designed to address growing challenges around water scarcity and climate volatility impacting the Caribbean agricultural sector, the program centers on equipping participants with both foundational knowledge and actionable practical skills in three core areas: modern irrigation system deployment, strategic water conservation, and climate-smart agricultural practices. Unlike traditional classroom-only learning models, the course prioritizes hands-on experience, giving attendees direct access to innovative tools and technologies that are reshaped sustainable agriculture globally. By the end of the program, participants are expected to leave with the capabilities needed to help build a more resilient, productive, and environmentally sustainable agricultural sector across Antigua and Barbuda.

The 4-week training session is scheduled to run from November 19 through December 16, 2026, and will be hosted at the Villa Poly Conference Room in St. John’s, the nation’s capital. The curriculum is structured to cover a wide range of high-impact topics, including water-efficient irrigation techniques, integrated water resource management, the latest smart irrigation technologies, adaptive climate-smart farming practices, hands-on skill-building workshops, and live field demonstrations of new equipment and methods.

Aligned with the government’s long-term vision for the sector, the program is rooted in the guiding slogan: “Smart Water. Strong Agriculture. Sustainable Future.” It reflects a broader commitment to capacity building, knowledge sharing, and collaborative growth across the national agricultural community, aiming to uplift smallholder farmers, agricultural extension workers, and industry professionals alike. Interested individuals can access registration via the official link shared by the ministry, and additional inquiries can be directed to the program’s administrative contact for further details.