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Education in Antigua and Barbuda is compulsory and free for children between the ages of 5 and 16 years.[1] The system of education in Antigua & Barbuda is based on the British educational system. The school year begins in September and ends in August of the following year and includes three terms lasting thirteen weeks each. Primary education begins at the age of five years and normally lasts for seven years. Secondary education lasts for five years, with three years of lower secondary, followed by two years of upper secondary. The literacy rate on the island is 99% for those age 15 and over.

Oversight
Hon. Michael S. Browne has served as Minister of Education, Science and Technology since 2014. The ministry is responsible for all schools and is comprised of the following departments:


 * Ministry Headquarters
 * Antigua State College
 * Antigua and Barbuda Continuing Education (ABICE)
 * National School Meals Programme (NSMP)
 * The Public Library
 * The Archives
 * Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology (ABIIT)
 * National Training Agency of Antigua and Barbuda (NTA)
 * Board of Education
 * Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI)

Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education has existed since the citizen-organized St. John’s Day Care opened its doors in 1915. As of 2014, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology estimates 75% of eligible students attend pre-school. While the Early Childhood Education Training Centre established basic health and safety guidelines as far back as 1983, there is no authority to enforce these guidelines and the quality of existing pre-schools has been criticized.

Funding for Education
In order to ensure that all costs related to schooling are covered by the government, there is an education levy on all basic wages in Antigua and Barbuda, with the funds used toward such costs as supplies, transportation, and school infrastructure maintenance.[1] Primary education begins at the age of five years and normally lasts for seven years. Secondary education lasts for five years, with three years of lower secondary, followed by two years of upper secondary.

The Ministry of Education has allocated the majority of its budget to school renovation. EC$151.6 million will be allocated to the development of physical plant, staff, and curriculum.

Statistics
In 2001, there were about 13,000 students enrolled at the primary schools and 5,000 students at the secondary schools. About 1,000 secondary school age students were enrolled in vocational programs. As of 2000, the primary pupil-teacher ratio was an estimated 19 to 1; the ratio for secondary school was about 13:1. The government administers the majority of the schools, including 42 public schools and 45 private schools[2]. In 2003, estimated spending on education was about 3.8% of the GDP. In 2000, about 38% of primary school students were enrolled in private schools.

According to the United Nations, females attend an average of 13.1 years of schools while males attend an average of 11.8 years. Schools enroll 65% of pre-school aged children, 88% of primary aged, and 93% of secondary aged. Primary school drop-out rates are 8.7%.

Schools
The government administers the majority of the schools, including 42 public schools and 45 private schools. Approximately 55% of teachers in Antigua and Barbuda are trained [2]. 91% of schools have access to the internet.

More than two years after being severely damaged by a hurricane, Barbuda's Holy Trinity Primary School reopened in January 2020.

In 1972, the technical and teacher’s training colleges merged and formed the Antigua State College. Additional training options outside of university are offered at the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Information Technology (ABIIT) and the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI).

In 2019, the University of the West Indies opened its fifth campus overall (and fourth physical campus) in Five Islands.[3] The country was previously served solely by the University of the West Indies Open Campus.[4] The government of Antigua and Barbuda contributes financially to the UWI.

The island of Antigua currently has three foreign-owned for-profit offshore medical school. The island's medical schools cater mostly to foreign students but contribute to the local economy and health care. The three schools are:


 * The American University of Antigua (AUA),[5] founded in 2004
 * The University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA),[6] founded in 1982
 * The Metropolitan University College of Medicine.

Those interested in higher education also enroll at schools in the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and Canada.

Corporal Punishment in Schools
While corporal punishment is sanctioned in schools, it has been criticized by the Human Rights Council who has called for the prohibition of corporal punishment in all settings in the country.