分类： education

Following the recent public release of the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment results, one institution has stood out above the rest: Post Millennial Academy. The Jamaican Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has officially confirmed that PMA claims the distinction of having more students represented on the elite Top 100 list than any other school across the country, with a total of 12 students earning coveted spots on the ranking.

In an official public statement issued shortly after the results announcement, the ministry extended formal congratulations to the entire Post Millennial Academy community for the outstanding academic outcome. Government education officials commended every stakeholder connected to the institution, from school leadership and classroom teaching staff to enrolled students and their families, noting that the exceptional result is a direct reflection of the school’s long-term, unwavering dedication to upholding rigorous standards of academic excellence.

“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology congratulates Post Millennial Academy (PMA) on being the school with the highest number of students, twelve (12), represented on the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment Top 100 List,” the statement read in part.

Education officials added that the top-tier performance further demonstrates the academy’s consistent, concentrated focus on advancing individual student achievement. Officials also praised the institution’s intentional, targeted efforts to foster a campus culture that prioritizes and nurtures academic success at the elementary level. This official recognition forms part of the ministry’s broader ongoing effort to celebrate the accomplishments of high-performing students and standout schools across the nation in the wake of the 2026 assessment release.

A young primary school student has cemented her place among the nation’s top academic performers after an impressive showing in the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment, earning high praise from the country’s top education governing body. Necasia B. Ralph delivered a standout performance across the standardized national evaluation, ultimately ranking third overall out of all participating students. Beyond this national top-three finish, Ralph also claimed a unique distinction: she is the highest-scoring student attending a government-run primary school in this year’s testing cycle.

In an official congratulatory statement released following the release of assessment results, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology highlighted the personal qualities that led to Ralph’s success. The statement commended her consistent hard work, unwavering perseverance, strict personal discipline, and relentless commitment to her studies, noting that her landmark achievement is a source of collective pride that extends far beyond Ralph herself. According to the ministry, her success brings honor and celebration to her immediate family, the administrative and teaching staff of her school, and the entire nation.

The ministry also took the opportunity to acknowledge the critical role that support networks played in nurturing Ralph’s academic growth. It formally recognized the contributions of Ralph’s parents, her classroom teachers, her school’s leadership team, and all other community and educational stakeholders who provided guidance, resources, and encouragement to the young student at every stage of her primary school journey.

Looking ahead to Ralph’s future academic endeavors, senior ministry officials have encouraged her to frame this impressive accomplishment as a foundational source of motivation, urging her to maintain her pursuit of excellence as she advances through her education. “Let this achievement inspire you to continue striving for excellence as you pursue even greater accomplishments in the years ahead,” the ministry shared in its official message.

Ralph’s result solidifies her standing among the cohort of highest-achieving sixth-grade students across the country in the 2026 assessment cycle, while marking a notable win for government-run primary education across the nation.

As one of the Caribbean’s leading higher education institutions with a 75-year legacy of regional impact, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has formally announced plans for its 4th Annual One UWI Postgraduate Student Conference, scheduled to run from November 18 to 21, 2026. The upcoming gathering will center on the forward-thinking theme “Advancing Knowledge, Shaping Futures: Research, Innovation, and Impact Across the Caribbean and Beyond,” a vision shaped by the overwhelming success of the conference’s third iteration held earlier this year.

Originally planned for November 2025, the third annual conference was rescheduled and held as a fully virtual event between January 20 and 22, 2026. The event drew more than 600 registered attendees from across the region and beyond, showcasing 51 original research presentations spanning a diverse range of pressing topics: public health, climate resilience, education, governance, and sustainable development, all aligned with the Caribbean’s most urgent development priorities. Following the conclusion of the virtual event, organizers awarded honors to 14 standout oral presentations, recognizing the exceptional quality of postgraduate scholarship across the university’s five regional campuses.

The 14 award recipients, who recently received electronic gift cards and commemorative prizes, were selected based on three core criteria: research originality, strict academic rigor, and direct relevance to Caribbean community and policy needs. The winning projects represent the full breadth of postgraduate research at The UWI, spanning public health, social science, agricultural sustainability, education reform, and economic justice. Standout winning works include a retrospective analysis of pediatric urinary tract infection comorbidities from the Mona Campus’ Faculty of Medical Sciences, a study of primary care patient awareness of medicinal cannabis in Barbados from the Cave Hill Campus, and an analysis of socioeconomic drivers of post-hurricane household vulnerability in the Bahamas, among other high-impact projects.

The third annual conference opened with a keynote address from The UWI’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and featured a lineup of distinguished international speakers including Nadine Bushell of Lions Clubs International, Rodolpho Gonçalves da Silva from Brazil’s Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), and Indian sustainability entrepreneur Ishaan Sudan. Across their remarks, speakers centered on the critical roles of community resilience, interdisciplinary innovation, youth leadership, and cross-sector service in addressing interconnected global challenges from climate change to public health inequality.

In comments following the award ceremony, Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR), highlighted the real-world value of the research presented at the conference. “These presentations demonstrate the exceptional quality of postgraduate research across The UWI and direct application to real-world challenges. They reflect a strong commitment to producing knowledge that matters to the Caribbean,” she said. Professor Henry-Lee also extended gratitude to all contributors to the conference’s success, including session chairs, discussants, campus graduate study directors, student and guild representatives, presenters, attendees, and the central organizing team.

Beyond academic exchange, the third annual conference integrated a tangible community outreach component: on January 23, 2026, a team of postgraduate students and institutional partners traveled to Hanover, Jamaica, to deliver disaster relief and practical support to more than 200 families impacted by Hurricane Melissa. The outreach effort, organized in partnership with the Lions Clubs of Jamaica and the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston, aligned with The UWI’s longstanding institutional commitment to civic engagement. It will also serve as a pilot program for the proposed UWI Give Back Day, scheduled to coincide with the 4th annual conference in November 2026.

Founded in 1948 as a small affiliate university college of the University of London with just 33 medical students based in Jamaica, The UWI has grown exponentially over the past seven decades to become a globally recognized research university serving nearly 50,000 students across five regional campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and a distributed Global Campus. The university also maintains global academic partnership centers across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, offering more than 1,000 credential programs ranging from professional certificates to doctoral degrees across nine broad academic disciplines.

Consistently ranked among the world’s top universities by Times Higher Education (THE) since 2018, The UWI holds the distinction of being the only English-speaking Caribbean institution featured in four separate THE ranking categories: the overall World University Rankings, the Golden Age University Rankings for institutions founded between 50 and 80 years ago, the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Rankings, and the Impact Rankings that evaluate institutional contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This global recognition has supported the recent launch of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), an innovative global online graduate business school focused on training the next generation of leaders in equitable sustainable development.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has officially announced the results of the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment, naming Denushka H. Gibbs from Minoah Magnet Primary School as the nation’s top-performing student this year. Gibbs secured the highest national ranking with an outstanding total score of 383, outperforming hundreds of thousands of sixth-grade students across the country.

In an official statement following the results release, the ministry celebrated Gibbs’ historic achievement, emphasizing that her success is a direct reflection of her consistent effort, unwavering resolve, and lifelong dedication to academic excellence. “Your exceptional achievement is a testament to your hard work, determination, and commitment to excellence. You have made your school, your family, and the nation proud,” the statement read.

The ministry also extended its formal congratulations to all members of Gibbs’ support network, including her parents, classroom teachers, school administrators, and community mentors who guided her through her primary education journey. Officials expressed strong confidence that Gibbs’ remarkable accomplishment will serve as a source of motivation for young learners across the nation, encouraging them to pursue their own academic goals with dedication.

Alongside the announcement of Gibbs’ top ranking, the ministry released the full official list of the top 100 performing students in this year’s assessment. Marlen sky J. Salien of Antigua Baptist Academy claimed the second-highest national score with 382 marks, earning him the title of the top male student in the 2026 cohort. Closing out the top three overall placements was Necasia B. Ralph of J.T. Ambrose Primary School, who scored 377 marks. Ralph’s performance also earned her distinction as the highest-ranked student from a government-run primary school.

Education Minister Daryll S. Matthew also joined in offering congratulations to all participating students, their families, teaching staff, and entire school communities following the results release. Minister Matthew highlighted a key standout from the top 100 rankings: Post Millennial Academy secured the highest number of placements on the national list, with 12 of its students earning spots among the top 100 performers nationwide.

The long-awaited results of the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment are finally official, with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology unveiling the roster of the nation’s 100 highest-performing sixth-grade students this week. Leading the pack of standout learners is Denushka H. Gibbs, a student at Minoah Magnet Academy, who secured first place nationwide with an impressive total score of 383.

Following closely behind Gibbs is Marlenky J. Salien from Antigua Baptist Academy, who earned second place overall with a score of 382, a performance that also earned Salien the title of the top-ranking male student across the country. Claiming the third position on the national leaderboard is Necasia B. Ralph of J.T. Ambrose Primary School, with a solid score of 377. Ralph’s third-place finish also marks her as the highest-scoring student from a public government-run primary institution in this year’s assessment.

In his official remarks following the results release, Education Minister Daryll S. Matthew extended warm congratulations to all the ranked students, as well as the parents, teachers, principals and school communities that supported them throughout the preparation period. Minister Matthew framed the achievement of placing among the Top 100 as a defining milestone in each student’s academic journey, celebrating the hard work that brought each learner to this point.

Beyond individual accomplishments, the minister also highlighted the institutional success of Post Millennial Academy, which outperformed all other schools in the country this year by placing 12 of its students on the national Top 100 list – the highest number of entries from any single school.

In an official congratulatory statement published alongside the results, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology reaffirmed its pride in the cohort, saying: “We congratulate the Top 100 Students in the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment. Keep aiming high and continue to excel!”

Matthew also took the opportunity to encourage all participating students, not just those who earned a spot in the Top 100. He reminded learners that regardless of their final ranking, they should take pride in the effort they put into the assessment, and continue pursuing academic excellence as they transition into secondary school in the coming year.

Alongside student rankings, the official results list also records each learner’s preferred secondary school for the next stage of their education. The vast majority of the Top 100 students selected either Antigua Grammar School or Antigua Girls’ High School as their first choice, with a smaller group opting to attend Sir Novelle Richards Academy.