Education Accolades: Thirty-four students earned Barbados’ top national academic awards for 2026, including 12 Barbados Scholarships and 21 Exhibitions, with Queen’s College and Barbados Community College leading the haul. School Excellence Pilot: Princess Margaret Secondary School will pilot a new “model of excellence” strategy from September, with results guiding possible rollouts to other secondary schools. CAPE Results Spotlight: Barbados posted a 93.8% overall pass rate in CAPE 2026, with strong female and male performance and multiple subjects hitting 100% pass rates. Back-to-School Support: The Social Empowerment Agency has received nearly 3,000 requests for back-to-school assistance, as applications ramp up through mid-September. Skills Training Pressure: The Barbados Vocational Training Board says demand is outstripping capacity, with classes already full and Construction Gateway drawing 1,500 applicants. Health & Kids: Paediatricians and medical practitioners are urging parents to stick with childhood vaccination as opt-out requests rise amid overseas misinformation. Marine Culture: Barbados Dive Fest 2026 is underway under the theme “Hidden Gems,” blending marine education, diving, and conservation. Travel & Tourism Buzz: Barbados scored nine nominations at the 2026 World Travel Awards, with public voting open until August 28. Border Tech Update: A real-time passenger-data dashboard is being pushed to strengthen border security and improve tourism planning as Barbados advances passenger information rules. Local Crime Case: A Christ Church man was charged after 13.6kg of cannabis was seized, with bail set at $40,000. Sports Community: Parish Land sealed promotion to the Premier League for 2027, while a water polo revival programme is set to restart later this year. Culture in Motion: A youth summer camp showcased creativity and Caribbean culture, giving children hands-on experiences in arts, hairstyling, and local tours.