The government has unveiled legislation to amalgamate four of the country’s main tertiary schools into one entity—the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies.
The legislation, championed by Minister of Education Daryll Matthew, will merge the Antigua State College (ASC), Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology (ABIIT), Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI), and the Harrison Centre for Continuing Education into a single consolidated institution.
“With a small country with limited resources, we do not have the benefit of scale,” Minister Matthew told Parliament. “When you have multiple institutions, some offering similar courses at similar price points, we’re effectively cannibalizing ourselves, competing with ourselves and not operating in the most efficient manner possible.”
The new college structure aim to eliminate duplication of programmes, streamline administrative functions, and create a more cohesive educational pathway for students.
Matthew noted, for example, that ABIIT has seen enrolment decline from 700 to approximately 250 students, indicating excess capacity that could be better utilized within a unified system.
Under the legislation, the new college would operate under a Board of Trustees—with representatives from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Labour, Architects Association or the Contractors Association and Ministry of Health serving on the 13-member board.
“This is not something that we have an option to do. We must do this, and we must do it now,” Matthew stated. “The education landscape regionally and globally is changing, and we have to find ways and strategies to ensure that our students remain competitive in an increasingly competitive world.”
The legislation will also provide for an Academic Council to be established, which will be headed by a president.
In the meantime, the passage of the legislation would mark the beginning of the transition period for the new entity, to be headed by Dr Jonah Greene.
The Minister assured current staff members that their positions and benefits would be protected in the transition.
“I want to assure the employees that you will suffer no loss of benefit, you will suffer no loss of employment, and there should be a seamless transition; you will not lose your years of service,” he said.
The Minister also announced plans to honour distinguished Antiguan educators by renaming the institutions.
The Antigua State College will become the Dr Alister Francis School of Education, Arts, Science and Industry; ABIIT will be renamed the Eustace Hill School of Business, Innovation and Information Technology; and ABHTI will become the Muriel O’Marde School of Tourism and Hospitality Services.
