The government of Antigua and Barbuda is moving forward with a broad push to expand accessible preschool services across the twin-island nation, with a plan to develop two brand-new early childhood education centres at key locations. Details of the initiative were shared publicly following Friday’s weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, where officials outlined that Education Minister Daryll Matthew had presented the proposal to the Cabinet prior to its approval. The two new facilities are earmarked for the Judges Hill/New Winthorpes region and the Jennings community, respectively, filling gaps in local access to early learning opportunities. Alongside greenlighting the new construction projects, Cabinet also approved a move to bring the Sir Luther Winter Preschool under full government operation. Established more than five decades ago by the late Dame Idris Bird, the institution has been a cornerstone of local early childhood education for generations, and the transition is expected to secure its long-term stability and service to the community. Government spokespeople emphasized that the addition of the two new centres will reinforce the nation’s existing early childhood education network, creating more supportive, safe learning spaces for children during their critical developmental years. Collectively, these initiatives are framed as a reflection of the current administration’s sustained commitment to investing in education at all levels, with a particular focus on expanding equitable access to high-quality preschool services for families across every part of Antigua and Barbuda. At the time of the briefing, officials did not release a concrete timeline for the construction of the new centres or their expected opening dates, leaving communities to await further updates on the rollout of the expansion plan.
Antigua and Barbuda to Expand Preschool Access With Two New Centres
