Antigua and Barbuda introduces universal free education
Key Points(5)
- Antigua and Barbuda has introduced universal free education from early childhood through university, with the government covering costs including tuition at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands campus and fees for certain regional examinations.
- Education Minister Daryll Matthew described the move as “historic” as students returned to classrooms for the start of the new school year on Monday.
- Matthew said the policy is intended to remove financial barriers that could prevent students from pursuing education to the fullest extent of their abilities.
- “Universal free education is a deliberate policy taken by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to ensure that finances and resources are no longer a limitation to access to education here,” he said.
- Under the initiative, the government is covering tuition fees at the UWI Five Islands campus as well as fees for certain subjects administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
Antigua and Barbuda has introduced universal free education from early childhood through university, with the government covering costs including tuition at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands campus and fees for certain regional examinations.
Education Minister Daryll Matthew described the move as “historic” as students returned to classrooms for the start of the new school year on Monday.
Matthew said the policy is intended to remove financial barriers that could prevent students from pursuing education to the fullest extent of their abilities.
“Universal free education is a deliberate policy taken by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to ensure that finances and resources are no longer a limitation to access to education here,” he said.
Under the initiative, the government is covering tuition fees at the UWI Five Islands campus as well as fees for certain subjects administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
“All of these tuition fees have been covered by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and I’m tremendously proud to be a part of that initiative,” Matthew said.
The education minister said the policy represents an effort by the Gaston Browne administration to ensure a family's financial circumstances do not determine how far a student can progress academically.
“It means that in Antigua and Barbuda, in 2026, the question of whether a child is educated to the very limit of their ability is no longer a question about that family’s bank balance. It is a question about that child’s effort and that child’s will,” he said.
Matthew described the investment as a national development strategy rather than simply government assistance, arguing that the country cannot afford to have capable young people miss educational opportunities because of financial constraints.
He acknowledged that expanding access to education could place additional pressure on teachers and schools and pledged that the Ministry of Education would continue working to improve resources, training and working conditions for educators.
“I do not take that for granted, and I will not pretend the resources have ever been as plentiful as your effort has been,” Matthew told educators. “You have my respect, you have my thanks, and you have my commitment that this Ministry will keep working to give you the tools, the training and the conditions your profession deserves.”
Matthew also called on parents and guardians to remain actively involved in their children’s education as the new academic year begins.
“Ask about the homework. Go to the meeting. Know the teacher. Praise the effort, not only the grade,” he said. “Your attention is worth more than anything in our budget.”
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