Carib Scope

分类： education

  • Rokers Point school renamed in honour of veteran educator Pembroke Ferguson

    Rokers Point school renamed in honour of veteran educator Pembroke Ferguson

    A landmark ceremony held in Exuma, The Bahamas, on Wednesday marked the official renaming of Rokers Point Primary School to Pembroke E. Ferguson Primary School, a tribute to the late beloved educator whose decades of devotion shaped generations of learners and strengthened local communities across the island nation.

    Bahamian Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis opened the official ceremony by framing the occasion as a milestone moment for Exuma, celebrating the enduring legacy of Ferguson, who devoted his entire professional life and personal energy to advancing education and public service.

    Born in the small Exuma community of Farmers Hill in 1908, Ferguson built a 47-year career in education that spanned multiple Bahamian islands. He began his career as a head teacher in Crooked Island before advancing to principal roles first in San Salvador, and later returning to his home island of Exuma to lead the local education community.

    His impact extended far beyond the classroom walls. Beyond his work in education, Ferguson served the public as a justice of the peace, worked as an ordained Christian minister, and operated a small farm where he grew fresh produce to distribute to low-income and food-insecure families across the region.

    Prime Minister Davis emphasized that Ferguson’s commitment to community uplift was visible wherever he worked. He noted that Ferguson regularly went above his formal job requirements, staying after school hours to provide extra support to struggling students and offering mentorship to early-career teachers new to the profession.

    “In Mr Ferguson, we see a generation of Bahamian educators who understood that teaching was never confined to four walls. To teach was to serve. To educate was to build a community, and that is precisely why this renaming matters to us,” Davis said during his address.

    Bahamas Education Minister Chester Cooper echoed Davis’ remarks, noting that the formal recognition of Ferguson through the school renaming was a long-overdue honor for one of the nation’s most iconic educational leaders.

    “As the children walk through the doors, some will ask who he was and we must tell them. Tell them that he came from right here. Tell them that he did not begin with any advantage. Tell them he worked, he learned, he taught and served,” Cooper said, highlighting Ferguson’s story as an inspiration for current and future students at the school.

    Ferguson’s son, Bishop Franklyn Ferguson, spoke on behalf of the family at the ceremony, expressing gratitude for the honor and echoing Cooper’s sentiment that the recognition was a long time coming. “We are rejoicing today because as many would have said that this was long overdue,” he added.

  • Wie bereikt de poort van Geneeskunde?

    Wie bereikt de poort van Geneeskunde?

    Every year, competition for limited spots in Suriname’s medical training program exposes deep-rooted systemic gaps in educational equity across demographic groups. This year’s admission cycle, held in early September, underscores these challenges starkly: out of 135 candidates competing for spots in the 2025-2026 academic year, only 30 applicants ultimately secured admission.

    Under the existing selection framework, 15 top-scoring candidates gain automatic entry based on academic performance, while the remaining 15 spots are allocated via random lottery from the pool of remaining eligible applicants. The 2025 results have drawn fresh attention to demographic representation gaps: data from the final admissions list shows more than 20 of the 30 admitted students trace their heritage to Suriname’s Hindustani community, including 13 of the 15 candidates who earned automatic entry through high test scores.

    These disproportionate outcomes are analyzed in a landmark new 10-year study titled *Physician Training, Specialized Postgraduate Education and Medical Workforce Planning Suriname 2026-2035*, which examines the intersection of ethnicity, educational access and entry to medical education in the country. The study highlights a striking demographic mismatch: Maroon youth make up approximately 33.7% of Suriname’s total 17 to 20-year-old population, numbering 12,681 people, making them the largest demographic group in this age bracket. By comparison, Hindustani youth account for just 18.8% of the same age group, totaling 7,079 people.

    Crucially, study authors reject calls to fix representation gaps through ethnic quotas or lowered admission standards, emphasizing that the roots of unequal outcomes emerge far earlier in the educational pipeline, not at the university admissions gate. To qualify for medical school candidacy, students must follow a rigorous academic pathway starting in secondary education, building a strong foundational knowledge base in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology years before they apply to university. This sequential preparation process is referred to by researchers as the “science pipeline,” a multi-year journey that determines which young people ultimately reach the stage of being eligible to apply for medical training.

    The study notes that academic ability and individual effort are not the only factors shaping outcomes along this pipeline. A wide range of systemic and socioeconomic barriers influence who can complete the required preparation: school quality, access to advanced science courses, geographic location, household financial resources, language proficiency, transportation and housing access, pre-application preparation, career guidance, mentorship opportunities and representation in professional role models all play critical roles in determining which young people reach the university admissions stage.

    This structural context explains why random lottery selection does not automatically correct pre-existing representation gaps. If one demographic group produces far more eligible candidates who meet the baseline admission requirements to enter the lottery, that group will inevitably be overrepresented among admitted students, even when selection is random.

    Rather than lowering admission standards to balance representation, researchers argue that preserving the academic and clinical quality of medical training must remain a non-negotiable priority, for both graduate outcomes and patient safety. Instead, they recommend targeted public policy investments to help more young people from all districts and demographic groups reach the required academic standard well before they apply. This means investing in science education starting at the secondary school level, providing support for subject selection, early career orientation, mentorship, and targeted interventions including extra tutoring, diagnostic testing, bridging programs and additional support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    In the study framework, ethnicity is not proposed as an admissions criterion, but as a diagnostic measurement tool. When a large demographic group is vastly underrepresented among medical school candidates relative to its share of the overall population, the measurement signals that systemic barriers are leaking talent out of the pipeline at some earlier stage of education, and targeted investigation is needed to identify and address those gaps.

    Beyond equity issues, the 2025 admissions cycle also highlights a second, equally pressing challenge: even for qualified candidates from all backgrounds, overall capacity in Suriname’s medical training system is severely constrained. This year, 135 eligible candidates competed for just 30 spots, a ratio that leaves 105 qualified young people without a place, some of whom have applied and failed to secure entry multiple times via the lottery system.

    The study explains that capacity constraints are most acute in the clinical phase of training, which cannot be expanded indefinitely. Currently, only 30 to 40 clinical clerkship spots are available across the country, with 79 current clerkship students and an additional 24 students already waiting for open placements. Without major expansion of clinical supervision capacity, increasing the number of admitted students would only lead to longer wait times for clinical placements, elevated risks to training quality, and widespread demotivation among aspiring physicians.

    In sum, this year’s admission round brings two interconnected challenges for Suriname’s medical education system to the surface. On one hand, a large cohort of qualified young people is locked out by limited training capacity. On the other hand, a significant share of Suriname’s demographic potential never even reaches the admissions gate, due to early barriers in the educational pipeline. The study concludes that equal opportunity does not require every demographic group to hold an identical share of seats at every stage of training. However, outcome gaps must be measured, explained, and when they stem from avoidable systemic barriers, addressed through targeted interventions that do not compromise academic quality or patient safety.

  • Labour shortage ‘challenges’ construction boom

    Labour shortage ‘challenges’ construction boom

    As Barbados undergoes an unprecedented wave of construction activity driven by large-scale tourism and infrastructure investment, the island nation is grappling with a critical shortage of trained skilled workers, according to Minister of Technological and Vocational Training Sandra Husbands. Speaking at the launch of the Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference (BACDC) hosted by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Husbands detailed how the current construction boom—fueled by a surge of hotel expansions, new builds, road upgrades, renewable energy installations, commercial developments and public infrastructure projects—has stretched the local construction labor force far beyond its current capacity.

    Husbands highlighted the massive scale of ongoing investment, pointing to the $800 million Beaches Barbados Sandals Heywoods development as a centerpiece of the current activity, alongside dozens of other residential and hospitality projects across the country. While this wave of investment has created widespread opportunity, generating future jobs not only in construction but also in hospitality and local supply chains, it has simultaneously exposed deep gaps in the skilled labor market that impact even small-scale projects.

    “When you look around our country, what is it you’re seeing? We are seeing hotels being refurbished and expanded. We are seeing new hotels being built. And then there’s some that are still to come,” Husbands told reporters. She added that ordinary homeowners are among the groups most affected by the shortage, as they struggle to find available tradespeople for small home repairs and renovations. “The people who may be experiencing the most pain will be householders who are struggling to find a carpenter to do something in their home or a mason to come and do some repairs because we simply do not have sufficient labour to be able to meet the demand in Barbados,” she said.

    Despite the challenges, Husbands characterized the labor shortage as “a good problem to have”—a byproduct of strong economic growth after years of stagnation. She explained that the current gap has roots in decades of economic decline, when prolonged downturns forced small contractors out of business and discouraged young people from pursuing careers in the skilled trades. The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed planned investment, leading to a backlog of projects that all launched at the same time once global restrictions lifted. Today, the country is managing nine major construction projects simultaneously, putting unprecedented strain on every segment of the construction labor market.

    “So instead of coping with one or two hotels at a time, we now find ourselves with having to manage nine, all wanting foreign exchange, staffing, and supplies in order to get their investment to work,” Husbands said. She outlined the core policy dilemma facing the island: whether to allow investment to shift to neighboring competitor countries like Saint Lucia, Guyana, and Jamaica, or to permit temporary foreign labor while accelerating vocational training to ensure Barbadians can capture the long-term job opportunities created by the boom.

    The shortage touches nearly every skilled trade in the sector, from plumbers, tilers, welders, and masons to heavy equipment operators, refrigeration technicians, and construction supervisors. The gap is particularly acute for licensed heavy-duty truck drivers, where companies are offering weekly salaries ranging from $700 to more than $1,100 to attract qualified candidates—yet still struggle to fill open roles. “Without drivers, materials don’t move, equipment does not move, and projects will slow down,” Husbands noted. She added that Barbados is far from alone in this challenge, with neighboring Caribbean nations including Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica reporting similar skilled labor gaps in their construction sectors.

    To address the crisis, Husbands argued that Barbados must dramatically accelerate its technical and vocational training programs while shifting long-held cultural perceptions that only traditional academic qualifications lead to successful careers. For too long, skilled trade occupations have been overlooked, even as demand for certified, practical workers has continued to grow.

    “Today, the realities of the labour market are telling us something different. The skilled trades matter, technical expertise matters, and certification matters,” she said. The Ministry of Technological and Vocational Training was created in part specifically to help the Barbadian workforce pivot toward these high-demand, lucrative careers available through the TVET system.

    Beyond attracting new entrants to the trades, Husbands noted that the industry also faces challenges around workforce soft skills, with many employers reporting concerns about work ethic and professional conduct among existing employees. “Many employers express concern not only that young people are not entering the construction sector in numbers, but also they are concerned about the work attitudes that our labor force now bring daily to the workplace,” she said. “The technical skill is insufficient; the attitude with the skills will make them unstoppable.”

    As part of the government’s comprehensive response, the ministry plans to launch a targeted skills upgrade program for existing contractors, giving them access to training through local institutions like the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute (SJPI) and the Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB) to learn modern construction technologies and update their professional capabilities. “One of the things we’re looking forward to is establishing a programme where we specially target the existing contractors and provide space and opportunity for them to get the necessary training… so that they can upgrade their skills and use those modern technologies and stay in the game,” Husbands explained.

    The minister also emphasized the critical role of formal certification, particularly for experienced workers who have developed advanced skills through on-the-job experience but lack formal credentials. She framed prior learning assessment recognition as a transformative tool to unlock career mobility for thousands of Barbadians who have the talent and experience but no formal certification. “Certification is becoming the passport to opportunity,” she said. “Prior learning assessment recognition is a powerful passport to accelerating the career opportunities and mobility of thousands of Barbadians who have talent, who have experience and expertise, but never had a certificate in their life.”

    Husbands stressed that the TVET Council and local training institutions must prepare both new entrants and incumbent workers for a modern construction industry that is increasingly shaped by digital innovation. Today’s construction sector is far removed from outdated perceptions of manual labor, she noted, now requiring expertise in digital tools, modern project management systems, precision surveying, building diagnostics, sustainable design, smart building technologies, and drone operations.

    The newly launched BACDC will serve as a collaborative platform for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and training providers to discuss the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities as Barbados continues to see sustained development activity. Ultimately, Husbands said, the country must leverage the current boom to build a resilient, future-ready skilled labor force that can meet immediate project demand while adapting to the evolving needs of the global construction industry.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Student Arrives in Beijing for International Chinese Language Competition

    Antigua and Barbuda Student Arrives in Beijing for International Chinese Language Competition

    A young student from the twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has touched down in Beijing, ready to carry her country’s flag into the 19th Chinese Bridge Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. The milestone arrival was formally confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in Antigua and Barbuda, which noted that Rondon Shaury Alexandra is now finalizing her preparations to compete alongside hundreds of young language learners from across the globe at this prestigious international event.

    Now one of the world’s most recognized platforms for youth language exchange, the Chinese Bridge program was founded with a clear mission: to deepen global understanding of Chinese language and culture, while fostering cross-cultural friendships between young people from every corner of the planet. For more than two decades, the competition has opened doors for secondary school students to showcase their linguistic proficiency, share their unique perspectives on Chinese culture, and build lasting connections with peers who share their passion for learning.

    For small island developing states like Antigua and Barbuda, Alexandra’s participation marks more than just a single student’s achievement. It brings the nation into the global spotlight of youth cultural exchange, giving the country a prominent platform to highlight its growing engagement with Chinese language education and cultural cooperation. As Alexandra prepares to take the competition stage, she carries not only her own dedication to mastering Chinese, but also the curiosity and goodwill of her home country toward the international community gathered in Beijing.

  • No Shade, No Relief for Silk Grass Methodist School Students

    No Shade, No Relief for Silk Grass Methodist School Students

    A viral social media video capturing hundreds of Silk Grass Methodist School students huddled under insufficient shade during outdoor school activities has drawn public attention to a critical infrastructure gap at the campus in Belize’s Stann Creek District, ahead of the 2026 academic term that began this month. The school currently serves 460 enrolled students, but its existing outdoor shade structure, the only covered space for school assemblies, sporting events, and group gatherings, is far too small to accommodate the entire student body during the hot, sunny months common to the region.

    With student numbers continuing to grow, school administrators and faculty have launched a public appeal to raise the resources needed to expand the existing shade structure, a project that construction professionals have estimated will cost $25,000 in total building materials. Unlike many community infrastructure projects that struggle to secure volunteer labor, Silk Grass Methodist School has already secured commitments from dozens of local community members who have offered to donate their time and construction skills to complete the expansion free of charge. The only missing piece to break ground on the project is access to the required building supplies.

    Eli Villalta, a teacher at the school leading the fundraising and donation drive, explained that the community response has already yielded early progress: the school currently has 14 bags of cement on hand to kick off construction, but still needs a wide range of additional materials including reinforcing steel, lumber, roofing supplies, concrete blocks, and additional cement to complete the project. Villalta noted that the school already has an indoor auditorium on campus, but that facility is also outdated, undersized for the current student population, and requires major renovations of its own that the school cannot currently afford.

    Villalta is urging local businesses, community members, and regional donors to contribute whatever supplies or funding they can, whether that is a single concrete post, multiple bags of cement, or a cash donation to purchase remaining materials. Once all required materials are secured, the volunteer construction team is ready to begin work immediately, with the goal of completing the expanded shade structure before the peak of the hot season to give students a safe, cool space for outdoor school activities.

  • OP-ED: The global higher education landscape – Challenges and opportunities

    OP-ED: The global higher education landscape – Challenges and opportunities

    Higher education institutions across the world are grappling with unprecedented structural challenges that threaten the long-term stability of traditional university models, a new analysis by a leading Caribbean academic has found. While the crisis has pushed dozens of institutions toward closure in North America and Europe, the Caribbean region stands out as an under-tapped market with significant room for expansion, if stakeholders can address core barriers to access and relevance.

    Across developed Western economies, the stress on higher education systems is already visible in widespread institutional closures. In the United Kingdom, industry analysts estimate that as many as 50 universities are at risk of shutting their doors within the next few years, with half of those already teetering on the edge of insolvency. The crisis is even more acute in the United States: data compiled by higher education research groups University World News and The Change Leader, Inc. shows that between the 2008 global financial recession and the immediate post-pandemic period ending in 2024, between 300 and 500 accredited, degree-granting post-secondary institutions have permanently closed their doors.

    China, which hosts more universities than any other Asian nation, has avoided large-scale institutional closures, but has undertaken a sweeping national restructuring of academic offerings. Between 2021 and 2024, Chinese education authorities cut more than 12,000 under-enrolled or outdated degree programs to align higher education with evolving national economic and labor market needs. In Canada, while widespread closures have not occurred at the scale seen in the U.S. and U.K., public funding for post-secondary institutions has plummeted: government contributions now cover just 48% of public university and college operating costs, down sharply from 67% in 2008.

    A shared headwind compounding financial pressures across the U.S., U.K. and Canada is restrictive new visa policies that have caused a dramatic drop in international student enrollments, a key source of tuition revenue for most large institutions in these countries. The landscape looks markedly different in Africa and Latin America, however: while some smaller or under-resourced institutions have closed, hundreds of new state-accredited universities have launched across both regions to meet rising domestic demand.

    ### The Caribbean’s Unique Position
    Across the Caribbean, roughly 100 local universities and dozens of offshore higher education institutions operate across the region’s small island nations. A small number of private colleges have closed in recent years, but most large, state-supported institutions have remained open, despite all facing persistent and severe financial strains.

    What makes the Caribbean unusual compared to other global regions is its untapped enrollment potential. Even with the existing network of local, regional and international institutions operating in the area, tertiary enrollment rates among recent high school graduates remain very low, ranging from just 15% to 27% across individual Caribbean countries. An additional share of graduating students chooses to pursue degrees at overseas institutions, leaving empty capacity at local and regional campuses.

    From an institutional development perspective, these dynamics create significant upside for Caribbean higher education. With current enrollment penetration far below global averages, there is massive room for growth, provided institutions can design programs that meet student and employer needs, and policymakers prioritize expanding access to align with regional development goals.

    ### Core Challenges: Eroding Confidence and Stagnant Demand
    Stimulating student demand is the most pressing priority for higher education leaders globally, and success depends on addressing widespread public skepticism about the value of a university degree. In conversations with business leaders and students across the Caribbean, author Canute S. Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), found widespread doubt about whether degrees deliver on their promised value. Employers question how well graduates are prepared for modern workplaces, while students question whether the time and financial investment of a degree yields a meaningful return.

    This skepticism is not unique to the Caribbean. A July 2026 Gallup Poll found that U.S. public confidence in higher education has fallen from 57% in 2015 to just 38% in 2026. Global enrollment data reflects this downturn: 15 years ago, 21 million undergraduate students were enrolled in universities worldwide. Today, that number has dropped 14% to 15.5 million, confirming a widespread global enrollment crisis.

    ### The Path Forward: Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
    A university education’s core mission has long been to build critical thinking skills, support individual economic independence, and foster the innovation needed to create new jobs. But shifting public attitudes and rising costs have put that mission at risk, requiring coordinated action from three key groups: universities, governments, and the private sector. In developing regions like the Caribbean, expanding access to higher education is a shared responsibility that requires all three stakeholders to work in lockstep.

    The Caribbean holds a unique advantage in its regional integration through The University of the West Indies, one of only two regional university systems in the world. As a core regional public asset, The UWI’s extensive resources are a critical tool that can be leveraged to drive inclusive sustainable development across the entire Caribbean, a role that should be centered in regional education strategy.

    Beyond state and institutional collaboration, the private sector has an essential part to play in aligning higher education with labor market needs. Rather than only acting as consumers of university graduate output, private industry should contribute to program design, fund targeted research initiatives, and provide consistent feedback on the skills and competencies needed to drive innovation and productivity. This ongoing feedback loop is non-negotiable to ensure higher education programming responds directly to market demand.

    ### Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
    While the global higher education sector faces significant structural headwinds, these challenges also open the door to transformative reform that can build stronger, more accessible and more relevant institutions. Thompson outlines six core strategies for Caribbean higher education leaders to capitalize on these opportunities:
    First, develop and pursue external accreditation for programs tailored to students displaced by shifting global geopolitics, particularly new visa restrictions and extra tax burdens on international students seeking to study in North America and Europe.
    Second, build flexible, responsive micro-credential systems that are carefully designed, priced competitively, and aligned with immediate market needs to appeal to non-traditional and working students.
    Third, adopt the restructuring model China has implemented to conduct rigorous, root-and-branch reviews of all existing programs and courses to assess their ongoing relevance to labor market and development needs.
    Fourth, center work-based learning as a core component of all degree programs to ensure students graduate with relevant, proven work experience that makes them immediately employable.
    Fifth, expand public access to research by using more creative, accessible communication channels, including social media, alongside traditional academic publishing, to make research insights available to broader cross-sections of Caribbean society.
    Sixth, create structured opportunities for undergraduate students, who make up the bulk of global university populations, to participate in industry-aligned research alongside faculty, building hands-on skills early in their academic careers.
    Finally, embed entrepreneurship education as a core requirement of undergraduate study, while prioritizing the development of student leadership skills to prepare graduates to drive economic growth.

    This analysis was written by Professor Canute S. Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies at The University of the West Indies. All views expressed are the author’s own and have not been independently verified.

  • Humano Seguros launches scholarship program for high-potential youth

    Humano Seguros launches scholarship program for high-potential youth

    In a major step to invest in the Dominican Republic’s next generation of talented young people, leading domestic insurance provider Humano Seguros has announced the launch of a groundbreaking comprehensive scholarship initiative called “Excelencia Humano.” The program is specifically tailored to support emerging youth who demonstrate outstanding academic performance, natural leadership ability, and a proven dedication to advancing social development across the country.

    In its opening phase, the initiative will award 20 full-encompassing scholarships in partnership with five of the nation’s top higher education institutions: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Universidad Apec (UNAPEC), Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), and Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU). All five participating universities are members of the National University Network for Development (RUNED), a collaborative network focused on aligning higher education with national growth priorities.

    Unlike traditional scholarship programs that only offer tuition assistance, Excelencia Humano delivers a holistic support ecosystem for its recipients. Beyond covering core academic costs for undergraduate studies, the initiative provides tailored one-on-one professional mentorship from industry leaders, guaranteed hands-on internship placements, access to exclusive academic enrichment opportunities, and invitations to contribute to high-impact special projects. Beneficiaries also receive priority consideration for open full-time positions at Humano Seguros after they complete their degrees.

    Eduardo Cruz, president of Humano Seguros, framed the launch as a long-term investment in the nation’s future. “Education stands as one of the most transformative forces we can invest in to shift society toward greater equity and prosperity,” Cruz explained. “For our company, this program is more than a corporate social responsibility project—it is a commitment to unlocking the potential of young people who will go on to lead our country forward.”

    The first cohort of scholarship recipients will be selected from students pursuing degrees aligned with the Dominican Republic’s core economic, technological, and business growth priorities. Eligible majors in the opening round include Economics, Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Telematics, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Accounting, and Finance. Over time, the program will expand to cover four broad pillars aligned with national development needs: STEAM and Sustainable Development, Health, Business, and Social Sciences, creating pathways for students across a wide range of in-demand fields.

    Carlos Mitnik, executive vice president and general manager of Humano Seguros, emphasized the program’s focus on bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world work. “We designed this initiative to help students connect the theoretical knowledge they gain in the classroom to the practical professional challenges they will face in their careers,” Mitnik said. “At the same time, we know we have just as much to learn from the fresh perspectives and innovative thinking that young talent brings to the table.”

    Diomares Musa, Humano Seguros’ vice president of Market, Product and Channel Development, added that the program addresses a growing need in the nation’s evolving labor market. “As industries across the country shift rapidly, we need a new generation of skilled, adaptable leaders who can keep the Dominican Republic competitive,” Musa noted. “Excelencia Humano was built to promote a culture of academic excellence and ethical leadership, while preparing emerging professionals to thrive in this fast-changing landscape.”

    Overall, the program anchors Humano Seguros’ longstanding commitment to advancing education, excellence, and inclusive social development across the Dominican Republic. By investing in young people who already show the potential to excel academically and lift their communities, the company aims to create a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond individual beneficiaries.

    As a member of Grupo Humano, Humano Seguros holds a leading position in the Dominican insurance market: it ranks first in the nation’s health insurance segment and third across all insurance categories. The company offers a diverse portfolio of coverage, including local and international health plans, life insurance, automobile insurance, and property insurance. For additional information about the Excelencia Humano program and application processes, visit the company’s official website at www.humanoseguros.com.

  • Georges backs call for English lessons

    Georges backs call for English lessons

    A leading immigration rights advocate in The Bahamas has thrown his support behind calls for mandatory pre-enrollment English language training for students entering the public school system who lack proficiency in the language, arguing that immediate placement in English-only classrooms creates unnecessary barriers for both learners and educators.

    Louby Georges, a prominent voice on immigration and migrant rights issues, made his position public in an interview with The Tribune, days after Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson reignited debate over growing language gaps in Bahamian public classrooms. Wilson recently raised urgent concerns that many teachers are now managing large cohorts of Creole-speaking students who are unable to communicate effectively in English, the primary language of instruction in Bahamian schools. To address this challenge, Wilson proposed that parents arrange private English lessons for non-proficient children before enrollment, and called on the Ministry of Education to enforce basic English proficiency requirements for all new public school entrants.

    Contrary to interpretations that framed Wilson’s proposal as an exclusionary tactic targeting Haitian and other foreign-born migrant children, Georges rejected that reading, emphasizing that the policy’s core goal is to set up students for long-term success rather than block access to education. “I didn’t take the statement as one that is trying to exclude Haitian children or any other foreign children,” Georges explained. “It’s about preparing them to succeed because, at the end of the day, it’s all about the well-being of the children and putting them in the best possible position to excel.”

    Georges went on to outline the practical downsides of placing students with no foundational English into mainstream English classrooms. He questioned how any student can meaningfully engage with coursework or retain lessons when they cannot understand the language instruction being delivered. Beyond putting the non-native student at an academic disadvantage, he added, this scenario also places unfair extra strain on already busy classroom teachers who are not trained or resourced to deliver concurrent language support to large numbers of beginner learners.

    The activist also agreed with Wilson that parents hold primary responsibility for ensuring their children meet basic English proficiency standards before enrollment. He noted that many Haitian residents living in The Bahamas on valid work permits already follow this practice, enrolling their children in pre-enrollment English programs that are often accredited by the Ministry of Education itself. However, Georges acknowledged that systemic barriers limit access to these programs for many low-income migrant families: not only are there too few such institutions across the country, but they also often serve only Haitian Creole speakers, leaving non-native speakers of other languages like Spanish and Filipino without targeted support.

    To expand access to affordable pre-enrollment training, Georges put forward two key proposals. First, he suggested that local Haitian community institutions – including the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti and the Haitian League of Churches – could partner to develop low-cost basic English programs for both children and adult migrant learners who need foundational skills. Second, he highlighted that bilingual Bahamians of Haitian descent, who are fluent in both English and Creole, represent an underutilized resource for language support. He proposed creating streamlined certification pathways for these bilingual community members to qualify as specialized English language instructors, expanding the pool of qualified support available to schools and pre-enrollment programs.

    Georges stressed that his support for pre-enrollment language training does not mean he backs barring non-proficient children from accessing public education while new training programs are developed. He clarified that all children legally residing in The Bahamas have a right to attend school, and he does not expect public schools to halt enrollment of these students in the interim.

  • School administrators set to receive promotion letters

    School administrators set to receive promotion letters

    After years of unmet promises and a rare show of labor unrest that disrupted the start of the academic year, a breakthrough has emerged for hundreds of senior school administrators in the Bahamas waiting for career advancement. The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) confirmed this week that long-overdue promotion notification documents have been formally handed over to the Ministry of Education, clearing the way for distribution to eligible staff.

    BEMU President Stephen McPhee told reporters on Wednesday that some affected union members have been stuck in stalled promotion processes dating all the way back to 2016. That backlog of unaddressed advancement issues stood as one of the core grievances that pushed more than 90 percent of the nation’s school administrators to join organized industrial action on September 2, a move that sent roughly 40,000 students home early on the first week of the new school term.

    According to McPhee, the promotion letters arrived at the Ministry of Education on Monday, and ministry staff are currently preparing the documents to send out to the eligible administrators. This step forward comes after a series of tripartite meetings between BEMU representatives, the national Labour Relations Unit, and Ministry of Education officials, held to resolve the full slate of union concerns beyond just promotions. Those other outstanding issues include unfilled administrative vacancies across the country’s public school system, an expired industrial agreement governing union member working conditions, and multiple other unresolved workplace matters.

    McPhee noted that formal negotiations for a new collective industrial agreement have already gotten underway, and negotiators have made measurable progress updating policies related to staffing levels, working conditions, and the formal rights of BEMU members. Still, the BEMU president struck a cautious note, emphasizing that critical financial components of the new agreement remain on the table with no final resolution reached to date.

    “BEMU will continue to advocate strongly for a financial package that properly recognises the responsibilities and value of our members as leaders in education,” McPhee said, adding that the union is now entering what he called the most critical phase of negotiations around financial terms. Union leadership hopes to see all outstanding financial matters resolved before the end of the current week.

    The promotion dispute was explicitly named by McPhee as one of the driving forces behind the September 2 industrial action. The backlog affects three separate groups of school leaders: administrators connected to a 2021 Supreme Court filing over delayed promotions, staff who completed all requirements for advancement as early as 2018, and eligible members who applied for promotion last year but have not yet received a decision or placement. The group waiting for notification includes senior education leaders across all levels of the public system: principals, vice principals, district superintendents, and assistant directors of education, all of whom are also waiting for the corresponding salary increases that come with their new roles.

    The industrial action prompted the Minister of Education and the Attorney General to file an urgent court request for an injunction, which was granted by Justice Darron Ellis shortly after the work stoppage. The court order prohibits BEMU, its leadership, and its members from organizing or participating in any future strike or industrial action, and requires all Ministry of Education-employed staff to report to their assigned workplaces during scheduled hours. It also restricts unapproved sick leave, requiring a valid medical certificate for any absence, and bans union representatives and members from pressuring, intimidating, or encouraging other staff to skip work.

    As negotiations continue through the critical financial phase, McPhee urged BEMU members to maintain solidarity throughout the process. “To our members, I say, remain encouraged, remain unified, and remain vigilant,” he said. “Success is being achieved, and your union continues to work for you.”

  • Dominica State College reports strong growth in 2026 enrolment

    Dominica State College reports strong growth in 2026 enrolment

    Dominica State College (DSC), the Caribbean nation’s leading tertiary education institution, has announced a remarkable surge in student enrollment for its 2026 academic intake, with multiple long-running and recently revived programs posting their highest participation numbers in the college’s history.

    Data released by the institution shows broad-based growth across science, business, legal, and technical fields. Enrollment in Biology jumped from 24 students in the 2025 intake to 38 this year. The Bachelor of Science in Business Management and the Paralegal Studies program also hit all-time enrollment highs, welcoming 21 and 29 new and returning students respectively. The Pre-Health program, a critical pathway for learners pursuing medical and allied health careers, attracted a total of 74 students, while two engineering programs hit new enrollment milestones: Automobile Engineering enrolled 23 students, marking the first time the program has crossed 12 accepted learners, and Electrical Engineering hit 26 students, surpassing its previous record of 15.

    Psychology, another fast-growing program, also reached a historic enrollment peak of 21 students, more than 75% higher than its previous high of 12. Meanwhile, Chemistry welcomed its first cohort of students since 2024, with 12 learners joining the 2026 intake.

    Kimberly Benjamin, DSC’s Marketing and Communications Officer, noted that the Associate Degree in Business Administration remains one of the college’s most popular programs, drawing a total of 102 students across all its specialized concentrations this year. This represents a substantial 31% increase from the 78 students enrolled in the program in 2025.

    Beyond growth in existing programs, DSC is also seeing a resurgence of student interest in academic disciplines that were paused in recent years. Physics is being offered again for the first time since 2022, while Geography, brought back last year after a hiatus, is running for a second consecutive year. This extended run signals steady, sustained demand from students for a broader selection of liberal arts and science coursework.

    One of the most notable shifts in the 2026 intake is the dramatic rise in the number of learners seeking to re-enroll and complete interrupted studies. DSC received 239 re-matriculation applications for the 2026 academic year, and accepted 110 of those applicants. In comparison, the college received just 167 re-matriculation applications and accepted 51 last year, meaning acceptances more than doubled year-over-year.

    Benjamin says this sharp increase reflects a growing trend of adult learners seeking second chances to complete degrees they started years ago, or to upskill by pursuing new academic pathways. As the college prepares to launch the 2026/2027 academic year, this enrollment boom has boosted institutional confidence in its mission to deliver accessible, career-relevant, high-quality tertiary education to all learners across Dominica. Benjamin added that the growing demand from adult learners also highlights the urgent need to expand dedicated support systems and flexible academic pathways for this fast-growing student demographic, particularly for those pursuing associate degree programs.