Antigua and Barbuda has introduced universal free education from early childhood through university, removing tuition costs for students as the new academic year begins and making access to education less dependent on a family’s financial circumstances.
Education Minister Daryll Matthew described the initiative as a historic achievement for the Gaston Browne administration, saying the government has deliberately moved to ensure that financial limitations no longer prevent children and young people from pursuing their education.
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Under the new policy, the government is covering tuition fees associated with examinations in certain subjects administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), as well as tuition fees at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda.
Matthew said the policy is intended to shift the determining factor in a student’s educational progress away from what their family can afford and toward the student’s effort and willingness to succeed. The government views the initiative as an investment in expanding educational opportunity across the country.
The programme extends an existing commitment to supporting students through public education. Antigua and Barbuda has also operated a national school meals programme, which provides lunches to students in vulnerable communities and has expanded its services across Antigua and Barbuda.
The introduction of tuition-free university education is particularly significant for families facing the rising costs associated with higher education. By covering UWI Five Islands tuition, the government is removing one of the major financial barriers that can prevent students from continuing their studies after secondary school.
The policy also strengthens Antigua and Barbuda’s effort to develop its human capital by giving more young people the opportunity to pursue higher education regardless of household income. For a small island state, expanding access to education can help build the skilled workforce needed to support long-term economic and social development.
As the 2026 academic year gets underway, the government is presenting universal free education as a major step toward making education a right that is accessible to students throughout their educational journey — from early childhood classrooms to university.
