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On a Tuesday morning at Princess Margaret Secondary School in Barbados, a palpable atmosphere of mixed anticipation and nervousness filled the grounds as 215 primary school pupils from across the island’s St Philip region arrived to sit the high-stakes Common Entrance Examination, a key assessment that shapes secondary school placement for young learners. Two full hours before the first exam bell rang, supporters began gathering beyond the school’s gated perimeter: parents, legal guardians, and primary school teachers clustered in small groups, trading stories of months of preparation and delivering final, heartfelt words of encouragement to the young test-takers. As students lined up to enter the compound, embraces were stretched tight, smartphone cameras flashed to capture the milestone moment, and quiet, hopeful prayers drifted through the crowd before the young candidates crossed through the gates to their assigned exam rooms. For many pupils, the mix of pre-exam nerves and quiet confidence mirrored the collective mood of the day. Cazziah Catwell, a candidate from St Martin Mangrove Primary School, summed up the widespread feeling shared by many of her peers, saying, “I feel kind of nervous, but I think I can do my best and I will get through it.” After months of after-school study, practice drills, and mock exams, other candidates leaned into the confidence their preparation had built. “Going into the exam I felt confident having done preparations prior,” explained Adrian Bailey, also representing St Martin Mangrove Primary School. Kianna Wooding, a candidate from Reynold Weekes Primary School, echoed that enthusiasm, noting, “I was preparing for this for a very long time. So now that the time is here, I just feel excited.” Even so, the unfamiliar exam venue proved to be an unexpected source of anxiety for some pupils, who found themselves out of their usual classroom routines surrounded by peers from other schools. “I’m feeling a little bit nervous. I feel nervous because I’m doing it at another school and I’m surrounded by different people,” shared Ranika Leon-Eversley of Reynold Weekes Primary School. Even candidates who said they felt well-prepared acknowledged a lingering undercurrent of nervous energy. Nefertari McCollin, another Reynold Weekes Primary candidate, put it simply: “I’m feeling pretty good. It’s just that I’m just a little nervous.” Ashoni Hinkson from Bayleys Primary School echoed that balance, saying, “I am a bit nervous, but I think I can do it.” Despite the pre-exam jitters, quiet confidence remained the most common sentiment among the young test-takers. “Today I am doing a Common Entrance Exam and I feel good and I will try my best,” said Nakyra Barrow of St Martin’s Mangrove Primary School. Educators who had spent months guiding their students through preparation also shared a tone of cautious optimism. Cheryl Pearce, a teacher at St Catherine’s Primary School, outlined the intensive work her class had put in, saying, “Lots of oral work, written work, practice, practice papers, etc. I think they’re ready, they’re comfortable and confident, and so am I.” She added that after months of focused preparation, she also felt a huge sense of relief that the exam day had finally arrived. Outside the secure exam room perimeter, tension remained thick among waiting supporters. Parents stayed close to the school gates, many showing visible signs of anxiety as they waited for the exam to conclude. Some clasped their hands in ongoing prayer, hoping their children would be able to deliver their best performance after all the hard work of the preceding months. Photos by Lauryn Escamilla of Barbados TODAY capture the full range of emotion on the day: from the group of supporters waiting outside the school gates, to a father giving a final pep talk to his son, and intimate portraits of the candidates and teacher who spoke on the record about the milestone day.

The 2026 iteration of Barbados’ most critical academic milestone for primary school leavers, the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (BSSEE), launched without major disruption on Tuesday, drawing more than 2,700 fourth-year primary students across the island nation to sit the high-stakes assessment that will shape their secondary education pathways. Breaking down the participation statistics, Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw detailed that the cohort included 1,410 male test-takers and 1,367 female participants. Additionally, 14 students completed the exam early, 53 received exam exemptions, and 89 have had their assessments deferred to a later date.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw praised the work of the Ministry of Education’s examinations and assessment team, noting that officers arrived at the ministry’s headquarters in the early hours of Tuesday to resolve any last-minute issues and keep the testing process on track. Education Transformation Minister Chad Blackman joined Dr. Archer-Bradshaw, Permanent Secretary Kim Belle, and Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles for a pre-exam visit to Deighton Griffith School, one of the test centers hosting the exam across the country.

Addressing students gathered before they entered the examination hall, Blackman offered words of encouragement to ease any pre-test anxiety. “This is your moment to shine. Be comfortable, be relaxed — you’ve done the work to prepare. Today is just your chance to show what you know, go in and do your best. The entire ministry, your school, your teachers and your parents are all proud of you already, and at the end of the day, your effort is what matters most,” he told the students.

After the first day of testing got underway, Blackman spoke with reporters, extending commendations to the full ecosystem of educators, administrators and support staff that helped students prepare for the assessment. “We’re incredibly encouraged by the confidence we’ve seen from our students this year, and that confidence would not exist without the hard work of our teachers. Preparation for this exam starts long before Class 4 — it builds from early nursery education all the way through primary school, so every educator along the way deserves recognition,” Blackman said.

In addition to Deighton Griffith School, ministry leadership conducted site visits to Parkinson Memorial Secondary School and Frederick Smith Secondary School as part of routine quality checks to confirm testing was running smoothly across all centers. Blackman explained that education officers had been deployed to every testing site across Barbados to respond quickly to any issues that arose during the exam period. “Our team has worked tirelessly for months to put logistics in place for this exam, and having on-site support across the island ensures that every student can test in a calm, fair environment,” he noted.

Blackman highlighted a particularly notable trend in 2026: a widespread atmosphere of calm and confidence among entering test-takers, a shift he attributed to intentional preparation by both teachers and families. “Over the past few weeks, as my colleagues and I visited primary schools across the country, from Gordon Greenidge Primary in Saint Albans to classrooms across every parish, we’ve all noticed the same level of quiet assurance from students. This year, more than any in recent memory, students seem relaxed heading into the exam room. That comes from teachers reaffirming that preparation starts day one of primary school, not just in the final year, and from parents reassuring students that their worth isn’t tied to one test result,” Blackman said.

Beyond exam day, the minister emphasized that all Barbadian students will have access to a high-quality secondary education regardless of their placement results. “No matter which secondary school a student attends after this exam, we’ve worked closely with school boards and principals to guarantee that every young person gets an exceptional experience when they start in September. We’ve upgraded curriculum frameworks, invested in teacher training, improved school culture, and expanded new opportunities that make secondary school a transformative foundation for lifelong growth. This is an exciting time for education across Barbados,” he stated.

At the close of the first day of testing, following a tour of Frederick Smith Secondary School, Blackman confirmed the day was largely successful, with only one minor disruption: a delayed start at a Saint Michael-based school. “We had a small delay earlier at one Saint Michael school, and we will be launching a full review to understand what caused the issue and prevent it from impacting future testing,” he said.

By the end of Tuesday, all scheduled testing for the day was completed, and Blackman commended students for their performance, urging them to take a well-deserved rest after months of preparation. “Now it’s time for them to relax and enjoy a earned break. I can assure the country that the first day of the 2026 BSSEE has gone exactly as planned. Students are already celebrating completing the exam, and I want to thank every student, every parent and every teacher for their hard work to get to this point.”

On Tuesday, the BSSEE ran concurrently with ongoing Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) assessments being held at several secondary school centers across the island.

Law enforcement authorities in Barbados are asking for the public’s help to find a missing teen from Christ Church. Keimone Donica Speede, 14, who lives in the Upper Carters Gap area of Enterprise B, has not been contacted since she was last spotted at 2:37 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2026.

Police have released a full physical description of the missing teenager to help community members identify her. Speede stands approximately five feet five inches tall, has a slim frame, and a dark complexion. Distinguishing features include a protruding forehead and small nose. Those familiar with her note she speaks in a soft tone and typically walks with a slumped posture.

When she was last seen, Speede was wearing a black short-sleeved top, patterned black-and-white long pants, and white slip-on slippers. She was also carrying a blue-and-pink haversack at the time of her disappearance.

Investigators added that Speede has a known history of leaving home without warning, and she often travels to the Silver Sands district in Christ Church. This pattern of behavior has led police to focus community outreach and search efforts in that area, while also calling on any member of the public who may have seen her recently to come forward.

Any individual with information about Keimone Donica Speede’s current location, no matter how small it may seem, is urged to contact local law enforcement immediately. Tips can be submitted directly to the Oistins Police Station at 430-2612 or 430-2604, the national police emergency line at 211, anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or any nearby local police station across the country.