The Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) has announced the imminent launch of a pioneering agricultural education institution at the former Glanvilles Secondary School campus, with operations scheduled to commence as early as next month. This transformative educational initiative represents a strategic repurposing of educational infrastructure to address national priorities.
Under the leadership of ABCAS President Dr. E. Jonah Greene, the institution is developing a specialized curriculum through collaborative efforts with both local and regional agricultural experts. The inaugural academic offering will feature two intensive short courses focused on crop production and poultry farming, scheduled for deployment between January and February.
This educational repurposing follows the Cabinet-approved consolidation of Glanvilles and Pares Secondary Schools, a measure implemented to optimize resources amid declining enrollment figures. At the time of merger, Glanvilles recorded 163 students while Pares had 178 enrolled. The transition involved transferring current Glanvilles students to Pares Secondary School, with teaching staff either reassigned to other institutions or retained within the Ministry of Education’s administrative framework.
The newly designated agricultural campus will leverage Glanvilles’ existing infrastructure, including a fully-equipped science laboratory, home economics department, hydroponic cultivation unit, animal pens, and multiple farm plots. This comprehensive facility repurposing aligns with the government’s heightened emphasis on achieving national food security objectives and advancing specialized agricultural education to strengthen the country’s resilience and self-sufficiency in food production.