CDB Approves US$56.2 Million Loan for Education Upgrades in Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda has locked in major external funding to deliver a sweeping multi-year upgrade to its national education system, following formal approval of a US$56.2 million concessional loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. The initiative, which will draw an additional US$23.565 million in co-funding from the Antiguan and Barbudan national government, carries a total budget of nearly US$79.8 million and is scheduled for full implementation by the Ministry of Education across a four-year window from 2027 to 2031, with projected direct benefits reaching more than 10,000 enrolled students nationwide. A core component of the project targets physical infrastructure upgrades for four high-priority existing institutions: Sir Novelle Richards Academy, Antigua Girls’ High School, Ottos Comprehensive School, and Golden Grove Primary School. Every renovated facility will be built to meet strict new accessibility standards for persons with disabilities, engineered to withstand the extreme wind and flood risks posed by the Caribbean’s annual hurricane season, and certified to double as designated public emergency shelters during natural disaster events. Beyond capital construction, the wide-ranging reform package includes a system-wide mathematics proficiency enhancement programme that will be rolled out across every public primary and secondary school, targeted professional development and operational support for over 750 classroom teachers and senior education administrators, and expanded dedicated support services for learners with special educational needs. Additional complementary measures include a new competitive school improvement grant scheme for local institutional leaders, technical assistance to modernise and update the country’s national Education Act to reflect 21st century learning priorities, and full architectural and planning work to convert two existing secondary schools into fully operational technical and vocational education and training centres to expand career-focused learning pathways for young people.