Carib Scope

分类： education

  • Grenada to implement reformed CXC SBA Framework

    Grenada to implement reformed CXC SBA Framework

    The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has given formal approval to an overhauled School-Based Assessment (SBA) framework that will roll out across Caribbean nations over the next two examination cycles, Grenada’s Ministry of Education has announced. The regulatory changes were greenlit during CXC’s 64th quarterly business meeting held on June 29, 2026, with the core goal of reinforcing the integrity, public credibility, and overall effectiveness of school-based assessment within the regional standardized examination system.

    The revised restructures how assessments are administered across different subject types, creating clear distinctions between practical and non-pacademic non-practical subjects. Moving forward, SBAs will only be mandatory for practical subjects, and the CXC has put in place substantially strengthened monitoring and moderation protocols to uphold assessment standards for these evaluated projects. For students enrolled in non-practical subjects, the traditional SBA requirement will be replaced by a new assessment component called Paper 032.

    Paper 032 is designed with greater flexibility to reduce student stress while still accurately measuring learning outcomes. Key accommodations built into the new assessment format include the release of examination topics one full month ahead of the test date, extra completion time for students who require it, and explicit permission for candidates to use approved reference notes during the assessment. Mirroring the existing SBA system, scores earned on Paper 032 will also be transferable across examination years, allowing students to carry over valid scores if they need to retake other components of their exams.

    Implementation of the full reform package will follow a staggered, phased timeline to give education systems, schools, and students sufficient time to adapt to the new structure. The new framework will first be introduced for Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) candidates ahead of the 2027 examination administration. For candidates sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, the transition to the revised framework will begin with the 2028 examination cycle.

    Grenada’s Ministry of Education confirmed it is collaborating closely with CXC leadership and local education stakeholders—including school administrators, teacher associations, and parent groups—to prepare for a smooth transition. The ministry notes that detailed, subject-specific implementation guidance will be distributed to schools, teachers, students, and families well in advance of each group’s first examination under the new framework, to ensure all parties have adequate time to adjust their preparation strategies. The ministry has also called on all education stakeholders to monitor official updates as more details are released, and reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to delivering targeted support through the transition period to minimize disruption for learners across the country.

  • Naps student wins bronze

    Naps student wins bronze

    Trinidad and Tobago has marked a groundbreaking milestone in its academic and youth science history, after 18-year-old Naparima College student Reginald Mohammed secured the country’s first ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), bringing home bronze from the 2026 event hosted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

    The annual global competition, which ran from July 10 to 19 this year, gathered hundreds of the world’s most talented young chemistry minds from across the globe to test their expertise in two grueling five-hour assessments: one theoretical examination and one practical lab assessment. The tests push participants far beyond standard secondary school chemistry curricula, challenging their advanced content knowledge, critical analytical thinking, and hands-on laboratory skills.

    Mohammed, an Upper Six student and head prefect from Debe, was one of four young competitors selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago at this year’s in-person event. The full national team also included Leon Copilah of Iere High School (Upper Six), Soren Narine of Fatima College (Lower Six), and Zeeshaan Lall, a Form Five student also representing Naparima College. The team was led by head mentor Dr Denise Beckles, a chemistry lecturer at The University of the West Indies (UWI), which oversaw pre-competition training for all national qualifiers.

    This medal win caps years of steady growth for Trinidad and Tobago’s national IChO program. The country made its competition debut with a virtual entry in 2021, followed by in-person delegations to the 2023 Olympiad in Switzerland and the 2025 event in the United Arab Emirates, before claiming its first historic medal in 2026.

    Speaking to local outlet *Trinidad Express* via WhatsApp on Sunday, just hours before the team boarded their return flight to Trinidad and Tobago, Mohammed called his win a long-awaited dream come true. “Elated — it was always a personal goal of mine to represent T&T on the international stage, at an Olympiad,” he shared. “I was confident in my ability, having taken part in the TT Chemistry Olympiad for many years, and all the faculty at UWI and my teachers in school and family believed that I could achieve a medal, which gave me the extra push.”

    Mohammed explained that preparation for the competition required far more work than standard secondary school coursework, as the IChO covers advanced chemistry topics far outside the standard high school curriculum. To prepare, he maintained a daily routine of working through past competition papers and expanding his knowledge across all branches of chemistry, rather than focusing on only one subfield. “It was a lot of work … But ultimately, I’m happy that my dream to represent T&T internationally and to win a medal came true,” he added.

    Following the conclusion of this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, Mohammed and the entire national team participated in an intensive daily training program hosted by the UWI Department of Chemistry, where coaches covered both theoretical frameworks and hands-on practical lab skills needed to compete at the global level.

    Selection for the T&T national IChO team is an extremely competitive process that begins months in advance. Each year, the local Trinidad and Tobago Chemistry Olympiad (TTChO) opens its first-round competition to all secondary school students across the country every December, with two divisions: Level A for Forms One through Five, and Level B for Form Six students. The top 10 scorers from each division advance to a two-week virtual training program led by UWI chemistry faculty, after which finalists sit a second-round examination in May. Only the top four performers earn the chance to represent the country at the international competition.

    Naparima College formally announced Mohammed’s historic achievement on the school’s official social media pages, extending enthusiastic congratulations to the entire team and supporting staff. The institution called the win a truly landmark milestone for both the school and the entire nation, noting that the program’s success has been six years in the making.

    “Naparima College is proud to announce a truly historic milestone! We were honoured to receive a congratulatory call from Dr Terry Mohammed of the Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, celebrating an extraordinary achievement by our students and staff!” the post read. “Master Reginald Mohammed, our Head Prefect, has earned Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)—a landmark achievement for our nation, The University of the West Indies, and Naparima College!”

    The school also recognized Lall, the second Naparima College student on the national team, noting that his selection as a Form Five competitor was an outstanding achievement in its own right. “With more opportunities ahead, this is just the start of an exciting journey for Zeeshaan!” the post added.

    The institution went on to trace the program’s growth back to 2020, when Dipak Balladin captured the first national TTChO title, marking the start of Naparima College’s Olympiad journey. After national delegations in 2021 and 2025, Mohammed’s 2026 medal win has cemented this moment as a historic turning point for science education in the country. “This accomplishment at the International Chemistry Olympiad is the culmination of years of dedication and excellence,” the school wrote. “Today, in 2026, Reginald Mohammed has etched his name in history by becoming our country’s first International Chemistry Olympiad medallist!”

    The post credited the historic win to the consistent hard work of students, school faculty, and the Naparima College Science Department, which has spent years nurturing young scientific talent. “This remarkable success reflects the unwavering commitment, perseverance and hard work of our students, teachers and the entire Science Department, who have consistently pursued excellence and inspired generations of young scientists,” the statement read. “On behalf of the Naparima College family, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Master Reginald Mohammed, our Olympiad team, our dedicated Science Department, and everyone who contributed to this historic achievement. History has been made, and Naparima College is immensely proud! Congratulations once again to everyone involved!”

  • Antiguan Educator Adeola Matthew Completes U.S. Leadership Programme

    Antiguan Educator Adeola Matthew Completes U.S. Leadership Programme

    Antiguan education professional Adeola Matthew has completed her participation in the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the United States and returned home to Antigua. The U.S. Embassy based in Bridgetown, which oversees diplomatic and cultural engagement for the region, confirmed that Public Affairs Officer Bobby Adelson Jr. recently hosted a recognition event to honor Matthew’s successful completion of the initiative. This edition of the IVLP centered on three critical themes for modern higher education: expanding cross-border research collaboration, building sustainable international academic partnerships, and developing actionable strategies to foster a culture of innovation across post-secondary learning institutions.

    As one of the United States’ most prominent professional exchange initiatives, the IVLP is designed to connect rising leaders from every corner of the globe. The program creates structured opportunities for participants to engage in meaningful idea exchange, build long-lasting professional connections with peers and industry experts, and deepen collaborative ties that transcend national boundaries. For emerging education leaders like Matthew, the experience offers a unique platform to bring global best practices back to local higher education systems, supporting the growth of Antigua’s academic sector.

  • UWI expands ethics training as healthcare evolves

    UWI expands ethics training as healthcare evolves

    Against a backdrop of rapid global transformation in healthcare – driven by breakthrough technologies, shifting public expectations and emerging public health challenges – The University of the West Indies (UWI) at Cave Hill has announced a major update to its medical training curricula, centering expanded medical ethics education to reinforce physician professionalism and deepen patient-centered engagement. Faculty leadership outlined the changes Friday during the opening of the 25th annual Sir Errol Walrond Scientific Symposium, hosted at Bridgetown’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

    Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of the UWI Cave Hill Faculty of Medical Sciences, told attendees that the institution regularly revises its training programs to align with the evolving demands of 21st-century healthcare, equipping graduates with the competencies they need to practice modern medicine. The most significant curricular change, Cohall confirmed, is the strengthening of ethics training for undergraduate medical students, which adds two new academic credits dedicated to the subject at the fourth-year level. While ethics has long been part of medical training at the institution, the revision re-centers the topic as a core, formal requirement, with repeated reinforcement before students enter their fifth and final year of clinical training.

    Cohall explained that the curriculum update was a direct response to feedback from key stakeholders, including the Barbadian government, the general public and industry partners, all of whom have called for greater focus on respectful doctor-patient communication and consistent professional conduct across clinical settings. “We have certainly heard comments from our key stakeholders about the state of engagement between our trainees – both undergraduate and postgraduate – and patients across all clinical and community care spaces,” Cohall said. “We conducted an internal review of all our programs and implemented targeted adjustments to ensure we stay aligned with our core mission: that the interaction between the public and emerging healthcare practitioners is consistently respectful, patient-centered and professional.”

    In addition to the curricular changes, Cohall announced that stand-alone ethics conferences are now a mandatory requirement for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students at the faculty. To date, the events have drawn far more participation than the institution’s own trainee body: the last two conferences attracted more than 160 attendees total, including practicing clinicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals from across the region. “We don’t want this critical training to be limited only to our medical students,” Cohall noted, acknowledging the cross-professional benefit of expanded ethics education.

    Beyond ethics training, Cohall highlighted ongoing investments to strengthen the faculty’s research capacity, built through strategic external partnerships and targeted grant funding. One key collaboration is with the Sick Kids Initiative, which supports the Shaw Centre of Pediatric Excellence; the partnership has recently funded a new full-time research fellow position at the centre. The faculty currently runs five active catalyst research grants, bringing cutting-edge, community-relevant research projects to both academic and public health spaces in Barbados.

    Cohall challenged medical trainees and residents to pursue transformative research that directly shapes clinical practice and health policy, rather than studies that only generate disconnected data. “One of the key gaps we have identified repeatedly is that we need transformative research from our residents,” he said. “We don’t want research that just counts beans – we want work that changes how care is delivered.” Cohall added that he expects research presented at this year’s symposium will not only secure academic publication but also drive tangible improvements to local healthcare delivery and clinical practice.

    Barbados Minister of Health Senator Lisa Cummins echoed that call in her opening remarks to the symposium, which honors the legacy of legendary Barbadian surgeon Sir Errol “Mickey” Walrond. Cummins framed the work of medical training and research as a foundational investment in the future of regional healthcare, noting that progress emerges at the intersection of evidence-based policy, ethical practice, empirical research and intentional implementation.

    She challenged researchers and trainees in attendance to consider their own professional legacy, following in Walrond’s footsteps by building the “institutional scaffolding” that will support future generations of clinicians and improve population health outcomes. “What is the role of everyone in this room in developing solutions to the pressing healthcare problems we face today?” Cummins asked. “How will you carry forward Sir Errol Walrond’s legacy by carving your own path, and building a foundation that those who come after you can stand on?”

    The minister also reminded attendees that healthcare’s core mission is centered on the people it serves, warning that losing that focus undermines all research, policy and system reform work. “Any time we lose sight of the people on whose behalf we work, research, shape policy and introduce reforms, we have lost sight of the entire point of our work,” she said.

    Cummins also emphasized that medical training must adapt to a host of disruptive forces that are reshaping global healthcare at an unprecedented pace, from technological innovation to climate change. “We are not operating in a vacuum today. Innovations and new interventions are changing our field at breakneck speed: artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we deliver care, genomics is rewriting what precision medicine means, robotics is redefining surgical practice, and climate change is creating public health emergencies that most classic medical textbooks never even considered.” Cummins concluded, “Change is happening. It is already here, and more change is still coming.”

  • CXC scraps SBAs for several subjects due to AI, other technologies

    CXC scraps SBAs for several subjects due to AI, other technologies

    In an official announcement made Friday, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has introduced sweeping reforms to its long-standing School-Based Assessment (SBA) system, a response to the growing disruption caused by generative artificial intelligence and rapid technological advancement across regional education sectors. The changes will apply to both the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination® (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), with the core goal of upholding the credibility and academic integrity of CXC qualifications.

    Dr. Wayne Wesley, CXC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that the reforms are not a rejection of generative AI as a learning tool. Instead, the changes address a critical gap: as AI becomes more accessible to students across the Caribbean, the original SBA framework can no longer reliably verify that submitted work reflects a candidate’s own knowledge and skills. “The SBA has served Caribbean students exceptionally well for almost 50 years, and we do not approach this reform lightly,” Wesley stated in an official release. “But the integrity of our qualifications is non-negotiable. When a system designed to assess student work loses its reliability, we have a duty to act decisively. CXC recognizes the challenges of this era, and we remain unwavering in upholding the standards that Caribbean families, educators, and employers have trusted for decades.”

    The revised framework comes after 12 months of extensive consultations with education stakeholders across 21 Caribbean states and territories, and is scheduled to roll out starting with the 2027 academic year. The reforms take a targeted, differentiated approach: for practice-focused subjects where hands-on, project-based work measures skills that cannot be tested in a traditional exam setting—including Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Technical Drawing, and Food Nutrition and Health—the SBA model will be retained, with stricter moderation processes to strengthen authentication.

    For all non-practical academic subjects, such as Mathematics, English, Caribbean History, Social Studies, and Principles of Business, the traditional SBA will be phased out entirely. In its place, candidates will complete Paper 032, CXC’s existing alternative assessment, administered under formal exam conditions. The assessment has been adjusted to retain the SBA’s original focus on extended, reflective learning: candidates will receive their exam topics one month in advance to allow preparation, extra time will be allocated for completion, and students will be permitted to bring personalized reference notes into the exam hall.

    In a public video statement accompanying the announcement, CXC Director of Operations Dr. Nicole Manning explained that the redesigned system preserves the core educational value of extended assessment while restoring confidence that work submitted for grading is authentically the candidate’s own. “A CXC qualification holds real value for employers, universities, and the families that sacrifice years of time and resources to support a student’s education,” Manning said. “It is in all our collective interest to uphold the high standard we have worked generations to build.”

    Manning also outlined a phased implementation timeline to minimize disruption for students and schools. For CAPE non-practical subjects, the full transition to Paper 032 will take effect for the May–June 2027 exam sitting. For CSEC candidates, 2027 will serve as a transition year, where schools may choose to offer either the traditional SBA or the new Paper 032 model, with a full mandatory transition to Paper 032 scheduled for May–June 2028. Existing SBA scores will remain transferable under CXC’s longstanding two-year validity rule, and starting in 2027, Paper 032 scores will also follow the same two-year transfer policy.

  • BNTU Explains Policy After Family Questions Denied Benefits

    BNTU Explains Policy After Family Questions Denied Benefits

    In a public debate that has rocked Belize’s teaching community, a grieving daughter’s viral social media post has thrown a harsh spotlight on outdated death benefit rules at the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), prompting the union’s leadership to confirm long-planned policy overhauls to better protect retired educators.

    The controversy began when Odalisa Alonzo shared her family’s heartbreaking story: her mother, Eda Carballo, a veteran retired educator who paid union contributions for 25 years, was posthumously denied death benefits after falling behind on small annual dues while battling a long-term illness in retirement. Carballo had allowed her payments to lapse as she focused on medical care, a decision that ultimately cost her family the benefits she spent decades contributing toward.

    BNTU President Nadia Caliz acknowledged the family’s pain in a public address, confirming that the union’s current constitution explicitly requires members to maintain up-to-date dues to qualify for any benefits, and she lacks the legal authority to override this longstanding rule. Caliz also pushed back against any suggestion of miscommunication between union branches and the Alonzo family, noting that branch representatives have already produced documented proof of their conversations with the family, which will remain private to avoid escalating conflict.

    Despite standing by the existing legal framework, Caliz emphasized that the high-profile case has amplified a reform push she has led for years, long before she took the union’s top leadership role. For decades, the BNTU has required retired members to pay just $2 a month ($24 annually) in addition to a $30 annual fee, totaling $54 a year, to retain eligibility for death benefits. If payments stop, all benefits are permanently forfeited – a rule that has impacted dozens of retired teachers who contributed to the union for most of their careers.

    Caliz highlighted that the current contribution model actually works in members’ favor: over a 33-year teaching career, a union member pays roughly $724 in dues, but qualifies for a $3,000 death benefit, far outpacing their total contributions. But the rule that strips benefits for lapsed payments remains a point of deep injustice for many retired members facing illness or financial hardship after leaving the classroom.

    Caliz recalled that even before she became president, she repeatedly introduced resolutions at BNTU conventions to create a one-time payout for retiring members who choose to end their union membership, a reform that was voted down every time. Now, as union president, she has advanced a new proposal that already secured member approval: a modest increase in active member dues will fund two key changes to benefits: an increase in the total death benefit payout, and a multi-year benefits guarantee (three to five years) for all retired members after they leave the classroom. Under the new framework, retired members will not need to keep paying monthly dues to retain benefits during this guarantee period, eliminating the gap that led to Carballo’s denied claim.

    In addition to policy reform, the BNTU is also updating its administrative systems: a new centralized member database is being rolled out to track dues payments more closely and automatically flag retirees who are at risk of falling behind on payments, allowing union representatives to reach out proactively before benefits are forfeited.

    While Caliz reaffirmed that the current rule barring benefits for out-of-date members remains in place for the time being, the controversy sparked by Alonzo’s post has created new momentum for the reform package, which is already moving through the union’s approval process.

  • $1.4 Million Upgrade Transforms Stann Creek ITVET Campus

    $1.4 Million Upgrade Transforms Stann Creek ITVET Campus

    In a major milestone for technical and vocational education in southern Belize, the Stann Creek Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) has formally opened the doors to its fully renovated campus this week. The $1.4 million infrastructure upgrade, entirely funded by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), was celebrated with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together education leaders, government representatives, and community stakeholders to mark the completion of the project.

    The rehabilitation work addressed longstanding structural issues across multiple campus facilities, bringing critical improvements to building foundations, exterior and interior surfaces, and roofing systems. BNTF Project Manager Dorett Tennyson explained that persistent roof leakage had been one of the most disruptive problems plaguing the campus for years, disrupting classes and creating unsafe learning conditions for both students and staff. “A big part was the leaks; we had leaks on the roof. So you know, we cleared it, we sealed it, and we repainted it, so we shouldn’t have leaking roofs again,” Tennyson said in comments following the ceremony.

    After the official cutting of the ribbon, attending guests toured the refreshed campus spaces, where institution leaders outlined the far-reaching impacts of the upgrade beyond just structural repairs. For Stann Creek ITVET, the renovated facilities create the infrastructure needed to expand access to technical skills training for both enrolled students and community members across the region.

    Gwendolyn Garcia Martinez, manager of the Stann Creek ITVET campus, emphasized that the upgrade removes long-standing capacity barriers that have limited the institution’s ability to meet growing demand for skilled workers in southern Belize. The improved facilities will allow the institute to grow its student intake and deepen collaborative partnerships with local businesses and industry organizations that rely on ITVET to train a qualified workforce. Garcia Martinez noted that local tourism industry employers have already reached out to establish new training partnerships to upskill current and future employees, and the institution is also exploring new programming to serve marginalized groups including people seeking asylum. “It has given us another level whereby we will be able to better serve more persons within this area,” Garcia Martinez said.

    Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Acting Area Representative for the districts of Dangriga, Hope Creek, and Sarawee, reflected on the challenges the institution faced prior to the renovation. For years, underinvestment in campus infrastructure contributed to low enrollment numbers and left a gap in technical skills training access for communities in southern Belize. The completed upgrade is expected to reverse these trends, positioning the campus as a key driver of economic development and workforce preparation across the region.

  • Currie: geen examens in vakken waarin leerlingen geen les hebben gehad

    Currie: geen examens in vakken waarin leerlingen geen les hebben gehad

    A ongoing teacher shortage crisis across Suriname, particularly affecting schools in inland and southern districts, has prompted the country’s education minister to announce targeted policy adjustments to protect students from being penalized for systemic failures. The announcement came in response to pressing questions raised by National Assembly member Silvana Afonsoewa of the NDP party during a Thursday parliamentary sitting, where she highlighted the severe disruptions to learning caused by prolonged teacher vacancies at multiple schools.

    Afonsoewa emphasized that many students have been forced to cram months of missed curriculum content into far shorter timeframes than official education guidelines require, creating an inherently unfair testing environment. “This is not a level playing field,” she told the assembly. “It is not the students’ fault that there were no teachers to stand in front of their classrooms, and they should not have to pay the price for systemic shortcomings.” Afonsoewa pushed the government to outline clear measures to prevent students from being punished for circumstances completely outside of their control.

    In his official response, Education, Science and Culture Minister Dirk Currie confirmed that students who received no formal instruction in specific subjects due to teacher shortages will not be required to sit final exams in those untaught courses. He added that the ministry has completed a school-by-school assessment of the shortage impact, and has already rolled out a series of interim mitigation measures to reduce learning gaps as much as possible. These interventions include bringing in retired teachers and part-time educators to fill vacancies, and extending instruction to Saturdays at affected schools to give students extra time to cover missed content.

    “No student will be forced into a disadvantageous situation that they had no power to prevent,” Currie stressed, adding that fairness and equity are the core guiding principles of the new policy. “We will not place any child in a situation they did not choose. Fairness and justice come first.”

    The minister’s announcement prompted further clarifying questions from fellow parliamentarians. NPS lawmaker Poetini Atompai asked whether students would automatically receive their diplomas without completing credits for untaught subjects, referencing a previous policy adjustment for geography exams. Currie clarified that automatic exemptions are not the default approach. Instead, students who missed significant instruction will be given extended time to catch up on coursework and take a delayed resit exam, rather than sitting the standard scheduled exam alongside their peers.

    “They will not participate in the regular exam session, but will get enough time to complete the required curriculum before taking the resit exam,” Currie explained.

    A20 party leader Steven Reyme then raised the case of a second affected group: students who received partial instruction in a subject, only attending classes for part of the school year due to late teacher appointments or mid-term vacancies. Currie confirmed that the ministry will apply individualized, customized solutions for this group as well. Each affected school will conduct its own assessment of student progress to determine the most fair evaluation approach, ensuring that no student suffers consequences for a staffing crisis they did not create.

    “We review every school that has experienced teacher shortages and find tailored solutions for each context,” Currie said. “No child should be made a victim of a situation for which they are not responsible.”

  • Two Young Women Empowered Through 2026 MUA/NIA Scholarships

    Two Young Women Empowered Through 2026 MUA/NIA Scholarships

    CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – July 16, 2026 – A long-standing partnership between the Medical University of the Americas (MUA) and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has opened new doors for higher education on the Caribbean island, with two emerging local educators selected as the 2026 recipients of the joint full-tuition scholarship program.

    Chosen from a competitive pool of eight applicants, Michaela Maynard and Aliyah Sampson will receive full funding to complete up to four years of undergraduate study anywhere in the world, covering all core expenses including tuition, accommodation, meal plans, and additional academic costs. Unlike common misconceptions about the program, the scholarship is not restricted to medical studies at MUA; it is designed to support Nevisian students pursuing any undergraduate degree, with priority given to fields that address critical local workforce gaps.

    At the July 13 award ceremony, Honourable Senator Jahnel Nisbett, Nevis’ Minister of Health, formally congratulated the two recipients, highlighting the program’s unique value for young island residents. “Too many people misunderstand this scholarship as only for those wanting to study medicine at MUA, but this is a true collaboration between our administration and the university,” Nisbett explained. “We fund degrees in any field, as long as those fields meet Nevis’ most pressing development needs. What we ask in return is that recipients commit to returning to Nevis after graduation to use their skills to lift our community up.”

    Both scholars have selected degree programs directly aligned with local needs: Sampson will enroll in a Bachelor of Psychology program at Midwestern University, while Maynard will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Development at Liberty University.

    Nisbett emphasized that the flexible structure of the scholarship makes it an unparalleled opportunity for Nevisian youth, noting that students can choose to study in any country and select a program that matches their career goals. She encouraged more young residents to apply for future cycles of the program, noting that the opportunity removes the financial barriers that often prevent local students from pursuing higher education abroad.

    Dr. Brenda Roman, Associate Dean at MUA, shared that the university has prioritized investing in Nevis’ local workforce through this partnership for years. To date, the program has awarded more than 30 full scholarships to eligible Nevisian students, expanding access to tertiary education for residents who might otherwise lack the financial means to attend university. “As a psychiatrist, I am especially delighted that this year’s recipients chose to study psychology and family and child development – two fields that are so critical to the long-term well-being of our island community,” Dr. Roman said. “Nevis has become a home to me, and I know these young women will return to make it an even better place to live and work.”

    Speaking after accepting the award, Maynard expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, crediting the MUA, NIA, her family, and her friends for their unwavering support. She shared that her passion for supporting children developed at a young age, when she began mentoring younger peers in her community, and that this opportunity will allow her to turn that lifelong passion into a career supporting Nevis’ families.

    Sampson echoed that gratitude, saying she was deeply honored to be selected and committed to upholding the standards of the scholarship throughout her academic career.

    Cindy McLoud, CEO of GUS North America, also offered formal congratulations on behalf of the entire MUA institutional community, wishing the two recipients every success as they begin their studies.

    The ceremony drew a wide audience of stakeholders, including members of the joint scholarship review committee, representatives from Nevis’ Ministry of Health and Department of Education, MUA leadership, family and friends of the recipients, and other community well-wishers. As a collaborative investment in Nevis’ future, the scholarship program continues to build a pipeline of skilled local professionals to address the island’s long-term social and economic development goals.

  • ASPIRE Banking Exercise Gives Students a Practical Head Start on Their Financial Future

    ASPIRE Banking Exercise Gives Students a Practical Head Start on Their Financial Future

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – July 16, 2026 – A groundbreaking hands-on financial education initiative is giving young people across St. Kitts and Nevis an early foundation for long-term financial stability, as participants in the national ASPIRE Program completed an interactive banking exercise Wednesday at the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank.

    Organized to bridge the gap between classroom financial literacy and real-world banking practice, the exercise gave participating ASPIRE students direct, practical experience with core banking processes. Under the supervision of bank staff and accompanied by their parents and guardians, students filled out official deposit slips, interacted one-on-one with bank tellers, completed deposits into their personal ASPIRE savings accounts, and reviewed their current account balances. The presence of family members throughout the activity underscored the critical role that households play in fostering healthy money management habits from childhood.

    Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and the nation’s Minister of Finance, spearheaded the initiative, which frames financial literacy as a hands-on skill rather than a purely theoretical lesson. Drew explained that the exercise was designed to let young people put core concepts of saving, strategic investing, and responsible money management into practice outside of school textbooks.

    “You may not grasp the full impact of this moment right now,” Drew told participating students. “But as you grow into adulthood, you will come to recognize how this early opportunity sets you on course for a strong, stable financial future.”

    To further amplify the impact of the exercise, Drew personally matched every deposit made by participating students, with matching contributions capped at EC$200 per student. The matching deposit initiative not only gave an immediate boost to students’ personal savings balances but also incentivized parents and guardians to continue making regular contributions to their children’s accounts as the students grow.

    Drew encouraged participating students to build ongoing positive financial habits: monitoring their account activity regularly, setting aside a portion of all funds they receive as savings, and developing the critical discipline of distinguishing between immediate discretionary wants and long-term financial needs. He also urged parents to help their children set up and access online account portals, so young savers can watch their savings grow over time and develop a tangible understanding of compound growth and long-term saving.

    The Wednesday banking exercise is a core component of the broader national ASPIRE Program, a government-led initiative designed to build intergenerational wealth and financial capability for young citizens. Under the program, every eligible citizen between the ages of 5 and 18 receives a total EC$1,000 contribution from the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Half of this contribution – EC$500 – is deposited into a dedicated personal savings account for the child, while the remaining EC$500 is invested in shares of locally based companies, giving young people an early stake in the nation’s economy. The program also integrates age-appropriate financial literacy education into the national school curriculum to reinforce key concepts long-term.

    To date, more than 4,000 ASPIRE savings accounts have been opened for young citizens across the country, with more than EC$4 million total invested in the future financial security of the next generation. Program organizers note that the ASPIRE initiative reflects the St. Kitts and Nevis government’s broader commitment to equipping young people with the knowledge, financial assets, and personal confidence needed to build secure, prosperous lives as adults.