During the 2026 Budget Debate in the Upper House, Senator Alex Brown issued a stark warning about a persistent national challenge: Antigua and Barbuda’s severe underperformance in mathematics education. The senator emphasized that despite the education sector consistently receiving substantial government funding, the nation’s academic results remain critically below regional standards.
Brown presented compelling data drawn from several years of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, revealing a troubling pattern. While the broader Caribbean region maintains an average pass rate in mathematics around 40 percent, Antigua and Barbuda’s performance languishes in the 20s—a significant deficit that threatens student advancement and national development.
“There’s obviously a problem with maths, and we need to find a solution,” Brown asserted before his fellow senators. “I don’t have the antidote solution, but there has to be a focus.”
The senator acknowledged the Education Ministry’s considerable budgetary allocations but stressed that financial investment alone proves insufficient without measurable improvements in educational outcomes. He called for strategic, targeted interventions specifically designed to enhance mathematics instruction, including specialized training and support for mathematics teachers.
Highlighting the critical importance of mathematics proficiency, Brown noted that competence in both mathematics and English remains essential for university matriculation. He urged policymakers to treat the mathematics education crisis as an urgent national priority, directly linking academic performance to students’ future opportunities and the country’s long-term socioeconomic development.