In a landmark announcement during Wednesday’s parliamentary budget session, Prime Minister Gaston Browne revealed transformative educational reforms that will eliminate tuition costs for qualifying citizens at key higher education institutions. The sweeping initiative, presented as part of the 2026 national budget, represents a significant investment in human capital development for the Caribbean nation.
Central to the education overhaul is the commitment to provide tuition-free access to the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus for eligible Antiguan citizens. This benefit will take effect upon completion of current infrastructure enhancements underway at the institution. The government simultaneously declared that tuition fees at the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advance Studies will be abolished entirely beginning in 2026.
In a complementary measure aimed at supporting secondary education, the administration will assume financial responsibility for all students undertaking CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) examinations. Prime Minister Browne characterized these initiatives as strategic investments designed to broaden educational accessibility while alleviating economic burdens on families nationwide.
The comprehensive educational package forms part of a broader developmental agenda that prioritizes human resource development as fundamental to national progress. Further details regarding implementation timelines and eligibility criteria are anticipated in forthcoming government communications.