AGP Executive Report

Brazil Election Watch: With Brazil’s presidential vote on Sunday, Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro are making final pitches in key battlegrounds like São Paulo, as the campaign turns on allegations of scandals and foreign pressure tied to Donald Trump. Education & Youth Policy: Saint Lucia’s education minister urged faster rollout of the National Youth Policy and Action Plan 2025–2030, pushing inter-agency coordination for measurable results for young people. Gender-Based Violence Reporting: UNFPA is partnering with Guyana’s media to boost human-centered coverage of gender-based violence, adolescent pregnancy, incest, and child marriage, citing high lifetime IPV rates. Higher Education & Research: Argentina’s first university nanosatellite, USAT-1, was successfully launched, led by students and professors at UNLP’s engineering faculty. Cybersecurity for Schools: A suspected China-linked actor, Warlock, is targeting education organizations via Microsoft SharePoint flaws, including attacks on universities across Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking regions. Community Learning in Guyana: Two educators in Berbice opened West Side High to expand subjects beyond math lessons and support students in Region Five.

Brazil Election Watch: Brazilians abroad are preparing for Sunday’s first round, with nearly 1 million registered voters in 134 countries; voting is mostly in consulates, though new cities like Hiroshima, Hamburg and Malden are included, while some locations were dropped for low turnout. G7 Energy Relief: The G7 plans to release about 100 million barrels of oil and refined fuel, starting with a “frontloaded” diesel release, as prices stay high ahead of major political deadlines. Argentina “Golden Passport”: Argentina will offer citizenship to wealthy foreigners via a $350,000 treasury contribution or an $800,000 seven-year bond investment, aiming to raise dollars for debt-heavy years ahead. Tech & Schools Security: Warlock ransomware is targeting water, telecom, government and universities, using SharePoint server flaws for initial access. El Niño Impact: Sea surface temperatures in Niño 3.4 hit a record high, raising alarms for reefs and coastal livelihoods. Caribbean Culture: Trinidad and Tobago begins Calypso History Month with a state-assisted funeral planned for the late Mighty Sparrow.

Venezuela Lobbying Case: Former Miami Rep. David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years for secretly lobbying for Venezuela, with prosecutors saying the $50 million effort came from Maduro-linked sources. Hispanic Heritage Month in Schools: In Key Biscayne, families and teachers are using classroom projects, food, and cultural displays to help students feel pride and learn from peers. Caribbean Climate Tech: A new study suggests underwater “umbrella” shades can temporarily protect vulnerable Caribbean corals from heat-driven bleaching by blocking damaging light. Caribbean Security Oversight: US lawmakers are pushing for more transparency and tighter scrutiny of Trump-era boat strikes in the Caribbean, after a judge ordered the administration to turn over a key legal memo. Royal Reparations Debate: Buckingham Palace says King Charles’ Caribbean tour will address the “darkest days” of slavery and colonialism, but won’t include an apology or reparations. Higher Education Rankings: Colombia’s Universidad de los Andes, National University, Javeriana, and Antioquia all placed in QS’s Latin America top 20. El Niño Migration Pressure: Honduras faces added migration risk as El Niño intensifies drought and food costs, compounding violence and poverty.

El Niño Education Risk: UNICEF says 25.8 million children across Latin America face growing risks from severe droughts and flooding tied to an intensifying El Niño, threatening food access, safe water, and learning stability. Climate Adaptation & Skills: Island leaders highlight workforce and education links in climate resilience efforts, including Guam’s circular economy initiatives that train residents for green jobs. Brazil Election & Pressure: As Brazil heads to the first round of presidential voting, coverage spotlights how US political and tech pressure could ripple through Latin American democracy—an issue with direct implications for public trust and civic education. School Safety & Accountability: Student groups at Cornell plan a “Justice for Survivors” protest demanding stronger sexual assault prevention and training, keeping campus safety and institutional responsibility in the spotlight. Coral Protection Research: A study finds temporary underwater shades can reduce—and sometimes reverse—coral bleaching in the Caribbean, offering a practical model for environmental education and local action.

Climate & Education Risk: UNICEF warns 25.8 million children across Latin America and the Caribbean live in areas facing very high El Niño rainfall risks, threatening access to safe water, health care, education and child protection. Health Access Innovation: PAHO and the Barça Foundation sent drone-delivered medicines to Panama’s Ngöbe Buglé communities, cutting delivery times from up to 12 hours to about 30–40 minutes. School Operations in Heat: Suriname will close state schools at noon for all of October due to extreme humidity and heat, adjusting class times to protect students. Student Voices on Climate: The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre’s youth short story contest crowned Dominica’s Sherdina Antoine first, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Priya Ramdeo placing second—showing young writers shaping climate-secure futures. Higher Education Recognition: UMass Amherst announced its 2026–27 Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series and Chancellor’s Medal recipients, spotlighting research and public-health impact. Regional Education & Workforce: Belize’s agriculture ministry says more youth pursue secondary and tertiary education, leaving gaps in the agricultural workforce and pushing the need for new training pathways.

Education Funding Pressure: St. Maarten’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) says enrolment has fallen by 913 students since 2020, squeezing structural school funding and limiting flexibility for extra board requests. Digital Skills Push: Jamaica is moving to close its digital skills gap, with the education ministry equipping every high school computer lab and targeting 30 computers per primary school, while calling on corporate partners to modernize labs. School Accountability: An Iowa substitute teacher was fired after allegedly pressuring students to donate to her personal GoFundMe for an Ecuador “medical mission” in exchange for extra credit. Learning Through Culture: Trinidad and Tobago’s Bocas Siparia festival at Iere High School used readings and performances to honor local historian Angelo Bissessarsingh and keep community memory alive. Student Life & Community: A Jamaica university league is set to qualify gamers for EA SPORTS FC 27 in the Red Bull Wings Cup, linking campus competition with national representation. Health & Education Research: A study on a “speech clock” suggests speech patterns could signal cognitive decline, with research including participants from South America.

Higher Ed & Assessment: Viterbo University’s institutional research team shares how it communicates NSSE results to faculty and trustees, using peer benchmarks to drive improvements in student experience. Regional Scholarships: The Caribbean Association of Banks and the University of the West Indies launch a 2026 part-time BSc in Banking and Finance scholarship for CAB member employees, with the next intake in January 2027. Digital Health: CARICOM health ministers move forward on a regional digital health strategy, with PAHO, the IDB, and the World Bank backing work to strengthen primary care, surveillance, workforce management, and health financing. Workforce Training: Stevedoring Services completes a Caribbean port-worker training programme with the Port Management Association of the Caribbean and the Caribbean Maritime University, qualifying workers to operate across the region. Health & Learning Tech: A new “speech clock” study using Spanish-speaking participants across Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru links voice patterns to biological aging and dementia risk, pointing to scalable, non-invasive screening potential.

El Niño Risk to Kids: UNICEF says 25.8 million children across Latin America face rising threats from droughts and flooding as the strongest El Niño on record drives more extreme weather. Disaster-Ready Schools: The same storm pattern is already disrupting food and water access in Central America, while wildfire and river-cutoff risks grow in parts of South America and the Amazon. Venezuela Housing Accountability: An AP investigation links the June collapse of La Guaira apartment towers to earlier decisions after mudslides and heavy rain—when officials built tall concrete blocks on unstable, earthquake-amplifying soil despite warnings. AI in Education Governance: A new Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in Education for Latin America and the Caribbean held its first meeting, signaling a regional push to set guidance as AI reshapes classrooms and learning systems. Diplomacy & Training: Belize and Taiwan signed agreements aimed at strengthening Belize’s foreign service, including education and professional development. Jamaica Education Funding: American Friends of Jamaica reports US$12M raised and US$7.2M deployed, including education support, ahead of its Oct. 16 Hummingbird Gala in New York.

AI in Education (Latin America & Caribbean): The Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in Education for Latin America and the Caribbean held its first meeting of member institutions, signaling a new regional push to shape how AI is used in schools and universities. Haiti Security & Schools: The UN Security Council renewed Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force for six months, stressing the need to reclaim territory and create conditions for elections, while also calling for reintegration, psychosocial support and education for children linked to gangs. TVET Skills Spotlight (Jamaica): Jamaica’s Brandon Brown won gold in optoelectronics at WorldSkills in Shanghai, highlighting the strength of the region’s technical and vocational education and training pipeline. Health Access (Sint Maarten): Women 18+ in Sint Maarten can register by Sept. 30 for free breast and health screenings on Oct. 3, with AUC medical students conducting checks and a board-certified oncologist leading breast exams. Mosquito-Borne Disease (Caribbean/US): Dengue outbreaks are driving emergency responses in parts of the southern US, underscoring how climate and mosquito resistance are reshaping public health risks. Climate & Coastal Risk (El Niño): Scientists warn an El Niño “Kelvin wave” could raise sea levels along the Pacific coast, threatening erosion and storm impacts from Central America toward California. Higher Education/Assessment (US, not LATAM): A Viterbo University piece focuses on how to communicate NSSE results to faculty and stakeholders, offering a model for assessment feedback loops.

Education & Assessment Politics: Dartmouth Latino/a Caribbean alumni oppose President Sian Leah Beilock’s reinstatement of standardized testing in admissions, calling it a “slap in the face” and arguing SAT scores track wealth and advantage more than aptitude. Childhood Health & Equity: In Antigua and Barbuda, a doctor urges annual checkups for children amid a lack of resident paediatric cancer specialists, warning families often must travel abroad for diagnosis and care. Higher Education & Research Pathways: An Antiguan prosecutor starts a PhD in criminology at the University of Leicester focused on prisons, rehabilitation, and criminal justice reform, building on earlier work on colonial prison architecture. Student Creativity & School Life: Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Authority launches a schools art competition for ages 7–17 on “The Rhythm of the Islands,” with winners displayed at V. C. Bird International Airport. AI in Education (Regional): UNESCO and partners convene the first meeting of the Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing together ministries and institutions from 33 countries to push ethical, equitable AI use in schools. Regional Food Security: CARICOM highlights how heavy food import dependence threatens resilience, pointing to Vision 25 by 25 efforts to cut the import bill through regional agriculture investment. Cuba’s Arts Education Under Strain: Despite blackouts and shortages, Cuba’s National Ballet School keeps classes running, showing how arts training and academics continue even as daily life becomes harder.

Caribbean Education & Policy: Nevis Premier Mark Brantley urged urgent regional action to prepare for AI’s impact on jobs and learning, calling for a coordinated CARICOM approach rather than talk. Regional Digital Payments: Trinidad and Tobago is set to become the first Caribbean nation to adopt India’s UPI, aiming for faster, real-time cross-border-style payments and deeper tech cooperation. Child Protection & Reporting Gaps: Panama reported 4,599 sexual offense complaints in eight months, with minors in 78% of cases, while advocates warn prevention and psychological support lag behind the numbers. Higher Education Funding: A $22.5M University of Pennsylvania commitment will create scholarships and endowed professorships for undergraduate students with Latin America educational backgrounds. Community Learning & Inclusion: Parlatino’s delegation visited Pius X School to study a “healthy school” model tied to school agriculture and student wellbeing. Cultural Spotlight: The Caribbean mourns calypso icon Mighty Sparrow, a reminder of how arts education shapes regional identity.

Education Policy & Access: A new report on the Texas Dream Act overturn highlights how students who rely on in-state tuition and grants can suddenly lose funding mid-degree, leaving learners scrambling to afford community college. School Resilience: In Jamaica, hurricane-damaged high school labs are still being rebuilt, with teachers forced to shift toward theory while equipment and books are replaced. Food Security & School Gardens: Teachers at Jamaica’s Victory Center are training in seedling production and nursery management for school gardens, supported by UNDP and IICA. Gender & Education: A World Economic Forum update shows Europe leading on closing the gender gap, while Latin America and the Caribbean still lag—education and health are key parts of the gap. Healthcare Workforce: A U.S. healthcare workforce index projects the shortage could nearly double by 2040, but pairing workforce investment with care delivery innovation could close most of the gap. STEM/Skills: A Caribbean-focused cricket initiative targets schools and colleges to expand participation and coaching.

Education in Crisis Financing: Education Above All (EAA) Foundation used UNGA81 to push for protecting schooling during conflict and for new funding, warning that UNESCO estimates a $97B annual education gap for low-income countries and that aid to education has been falling. STEM and Skills for Oil Economies: In Guyana, education specialist Dr. Karen Abrams argues the oil boom won’t automatically build capacity; long-term success depends on closing skills gaps in engineering, software, energy and data—backed by STEMGuyana and Pathway Academy Online. Road Safety and Equity in Schools/Communities: Guyana also moved ahead with a socially inclusive, gender-responsive road safety awareness strategy tied to the Linden–Mabura Hill road upgrade, including a nationwide speeding campaign. Youth Education and Training Pathways: The American Cricket Council launched a nationwide school and collegiate cricket initiative in the US, aiming to create structured grassroots pathways and coaching, with scholarship opportunities for student-athletes. AI and Learning Policy Debate: A Nevis op-ed argues the Caribbean must actively shape AI’s impact on education and children, not just react to it.

Education & Research: The University of Guyana will host its 4th Graduate Research Symposium (Sept 30–Oct 2) on “Resilience for the 21st Century,” bringing together graduate work on health, digital innovation, agriculture, forestry, culture and sustainable development, with both in-person and online participation. Student Support & Access: Jamaica’s scholarship pathway is highlighted through a Jamaica–Cuba Bilateral Scholarship medical student story, showing how international study can ease the cost barrier to professional training. Disaster Risk Education: CDEMA’s executive director says universities and training programmes should teach young people about local hazards, praising a UWI Cave Hill practical course in emergency preparedness, first aid, fire safety and disaster response. Climate & Food Security: Forecasters warn a potentially record-strength El Niño could worsen drought and heat across regions, with the UN World Food Programme projecting tens of millions more people facing acute food insecurity by end-2027, including Central America. Culture in Schools: Jamaica is moving to make Caribbean history and social studies compulsory in secondary schools, aiming to strengthen civic identity and critical thinking. Language & Learning: Oxford’s latest OED update adds East African English terms like azmari and berbere, reflecting growing recognition of World Englishes.

Education & Youth Tech: St. Kitts and Nevis First Lady Diani Prince-Drew urged UNGA partners to include young people from small island states in decisions on technology and education, arguing digital access must translate into fair opportunities. Mandarin in Schools: Taiwan’s embassy in Saint Lucia donated 500+ copies of “Let’s Learn Mandarin” textbooks and workbooks to Form 1 students at St. Mary’s College, positioning Mandarin as both cultural heritage and a growing job-skill. School Sports Development: Saint Lucia launched the 2026–2027 school sports season, unveiling an earlier calendar and a new “School Sports 758” platform to boost student-athlete visibility and sponsorship. AI Governance Warning: UN leaders warned of “colonisation by data,” calling for developing countries to have a stronger voice in AI rules, data access, and protections for local languages and cultures. Community Learning & Inclusion: A global health initiative convened ministers and leaders to push education-linked prevention and earlier intervention in health systems.

UN Reform & Food Security: Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali urged UN Security Council reform to reflect today’s realities, while Finance Minister Ashni Singh warned hunger gains are fragile amid El Niño, higher input costs and trade disruptions. Caribbean Youth & Education: St. Kitts and Nevis First Lady Diani Prince-Drew pushed for Caribbean youth to be included in global talks on technology and education, ahead of a regional UN-linked event. Teachers & International Exchange: Belizean teachers are joining the US Participate Learning programme, bringing cultural exchange into classrooms and expanding since 2019. Water & Infrastructure for Learning: Mexico broke ground on an $850m desalination plant in Rosarito to stabilize water for Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada—an essential baseline for schools and communities. Climate Risk for Schools: New reporting on “super El Niño” highlights likely extreme heat, floods and drought that could disrupt education through crop losses and public health strain. AI Governance in the Region: Barbados will host a UN AI panel meeting, pushing for globally agreed rules with human oversight and shared benefits.