NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
The Education Act of 2008 which governs education in Antigua and Barbuda from early childhood to tertiary education defines private educational institutions as “schools other than public schools and assisted private schools and which are owned, managed, and financed by trusts, individuals, bodies or any incorporated or unincorporated bodies and include a school; or a class; or an educational institution attended by twelve or more students continuously for more than eight hours per week and which is in possession of a permit issued by the Minister”. According to the Act, a private school is a “school provided and maintained by some person or authority other than the Government”.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Antigua and Barbuda, education is compulsory and free for children between the ages of 5 and 16. The education system is composed of: ECD programmes (ages 0-3), pre-school education (ages 3-5), primary education (ages 5-12), lower secondary education (ages 12-15) and upper secondary education (ages 15-17). Students who have completed their upper secondary education and have obtained a certificate may pursue their studies in a higher education institution.
The Education Act defines a public school as a school that is maintained at public expense to which the general public has access without any condition, other than those authorise by the Act. A Government school is defined as a public school wholly owned by the government.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
The Antigua and Barbuda Education Statistical Digest for 2012-15 shows that the percentage of private enrolment varies across different education levels. Total private enrolment in the 2014-15 school year reached 93.5% in ECD, 51.6% in primary education (including the enrolment in special schools) and 19% in secondary education. The Education Statistical Digest for the Academic Year 2018/19 of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States which includes information on private school enrolment in Antigua and Barbuda, showed that at the primary level enrolment in public institutions was higher than enrolment in higher institutions. At the secondary level, enrolment at public schools was four times higher than in private or government assisted secondary schools which is consistent with trends from previous years.
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools vary in size across the different education levels. At the primary level, there were 31 private schools in 2014-15 out of the 60 schools in the country, while at the secondary level there were 11 private schools out of the private schools in the country. At the post-secondary level, 2 schools were private out of a total of 5 schools. A list of private schools in Antigua and Barbuda is provided by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries. Some private schools are denominational.
There are several international schools in Antigua offering the International Baccalaureate program.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
The Education Act of 2008 includes provisions for the assistance from public funds to private schools. According to the Act, any private school may receive aid or grants from private schools. The request for assistance from public funds must be approved by the Parliament.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
The requirements of home education are set out in Division 3, Section 81 of the Education Act (2008). To provide home education, the parent or guardian must first apply to the Director of Education indicating the name of the student, gender, age, address and the last school attended. The application must also include the name of the home school educator if different from the parent/guardian. In June 2019, a publication on home education in Antigua and Barbuda by the Curriculum Development Unit summarizde some of the provisions of the Education Act on this matter. It outlines that an educational plan for each student who is receiving home education shall be prepared and provided to the Director of Education three months prior to the commencement of the home education programme. The educational plan shall be for a minimum period of three school years.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
Special schools
Private actors provide education services for children with disabilities in Antigua and Barbuda. In 2014-15 out of the 3 special schools in the country, one was private.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries administers the majority of the schools in the country. At the early childhood care and education level, non-state services are governed by the Early Childhood Educational and Training Centre. At the primary and secondary level, non-state services are governed by different departments within the Ministry.
With respect to non-state involvement in education, the Education Act (2008) establishes that the Minister of Education has the responsibility of requiring the attendance of children of compulsory school age at the schools established and conducted under the Act and of regulating the operation of private schools.
Vision. The Draft Education Sector Plan (2013-18) established that schools should be improved and developed through integrated partnerships with community and private organizations. In addition the OECS Education Sector Strategy 2012-2021 that covers Antigua and Barbuda mentions among its priorities “Creating opportunities for the greater involvement of the private sector in the delivery of quality education; “Improve funding for early childhood sector by developing and implementing a strategy that encourages publicprivate partnerships”; “For improved institutional security and, in some cases, programme relevance, tertiary institutions need to engage with the private sector, both regionally and internationally, to form public-private partnerships”; and “Public-private partnerships should be explored and targeted at economic sectors where there could be a direct benefit to the sector, especially in relation to the tertiary and TVET education”.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
In Antigua and Barbuda early childhood care and education cover ages 0-5 through ECD programmes (ages 0-3) and pre-school education (ages 3-5). Overall responsibility for the development of the sector rests with the Ministry of Education, and is exercised through the Early Childhood Educational and Training Centre (ECETC). The ECETC is headed by an Education Officer in charge of administration of Early Childhood Education, who is supported by five (5) Early Childhood Field Officers. These officers monitor and assist early childhood service providers in the field and coordinate teacher training programmes.
Early Childhood institutions are registered with the Early Childhood Development Unit within the Ministry of Education. At this education level, most institutions are privately run, with a number of these being church-affiliated. Some institutions serve as both day-care and pre-schools. There were 92 registered early childhood institutions in 2013-14, of which 84 private and 8 public. Out of the private institutions, 8 i were day-cares, 26 pre-schools, and 50 were combined day-care and pre-school centres. The full list of ECD institutions is published by the Ministry of Education. If an institution is not listed, it means that it hasn’t been registered with the Ministry.
The Childcare and Protection Act 2003 which provides for the establishment of a Childcare and Protection Agency. The Act gave the Childcare and Protection Agency the responsibility to enforce prescribed standards and other requirements for care of children who are in childcare facilities or any other educational setting in order to promote the best development of the child in accordance with early childhood development goals.
In 2008, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda successfully adopted a National Early Childhood Policy with the support of a wide range of stakeholders. No laws are regulating the provision of private education at the early childhood care and education level.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: See Multi-level regulations.
Teaching profession: See Multi-level regulations.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Child assessment: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): No information was found.
Profit-making: See Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: See Multi-level regulations.
Teaching profession: See Multi-level regulations.
Corporal punishment: Corporal punishment is lawful in schools. According to the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, the provisions for corporal punishment in the Education Act 2008 should be repealed, and prohibition enacted in legislation applicable to all educational settings, public and private.
Other safety measures and Covid-19: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: No information was found.
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
There are few private tertiary education institutions. The American University of Antigua, a for-profit higher education institution located in the town of Coolidge and the University of Health Sciences Antigua located in the town of Dow Hill are some examples. Private universities must be officially recognized by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries.
Registration and approval: Higher education institutions must be recognised by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries.
Licence: No information was found.
Profit-making: According to the University College of Antigua and Barbuda (CUWI) Bill of 2017, universities can receive gifts, grants and endowments from private individuals and foundations. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: The Board of Trustees determines the course of study to be pursued in each faculty and confers academic degrees, diplomas, certificates and honours.
Teaching profession: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Boards: Private universities are governed and administrated by a Board of Trustees. In the case of the University College of Antigua and Barbuda, the Minister may invite non-government organisations to make nominations for the appointment of the Board, taking into consideration organisations which have made financial or other contributions of not less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) to the University fund.
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: No information was found.
Assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: No information was found.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
The Education Act (2008) regulates all education levels from early childhood to tertiary education in Antigua and Barbuda, including public, assisted and private schools. The provisions included below are those specified under articles 34-42 of the Act.
Registration and approval: Private schools must be registered by the proprietors in the Register of Private Schools kept under the authority of the Minister of Education according to the Education Act (2008).
Licence: The licence to operate a private school is granted by the Minister of Education. If a private school remains closed for a longer period than thirty consecutive days (except for regular holidays) and there are no compelling reasons for the closure, the Minister may revoke the licence of the private school.
Profit-making: Before the 30th of September of each year, private schools must provide a detailed statement of their finances including fees received, individual salaries of teachers and/or board members as established by the Education Act (2008).
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum or education standards: The Minister of Education has the power to make regulations around the suitability of the curriculum courses and methods of instruction in private schools according to the Education Act.
Teaching profession: There are no specific provisions for teachers working in private schools under the Education Act (2008). The Act does not include regulations on teacher’s salaries for any education level but it does mention that private schools must keep a detailed statement of their finances including fees received and individual salaries of teachers or board members which should be submitted to the Ministry of Education every year before the 30th of September.
The Civil Service Act does not establish the same working conditions for teachers working in private and public schools.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Inspection: Every September, private schools proprietors shall furnish the Minister with a return in respect of the previous school year with information regarding the number of sessions during which the school was opened, the number of pupils on roll at the end of the school year and the average attendance for the school year. If there is a change in the ownership of the school or its location, the proprietor is obliged to notify these changes to the Minister. The Act determines that the Minister or his representative may visit a private school and make enquiries.
The Act also determines that the Minister may make regulations for the control and management of private schools in respect to matters such as the size of classrooms and their equipment, the number of children that may occupy each classroom, and the necessary toilet facilities to be provided.
Sanctions: If a proprietor falls to register a private school, he or she shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars and in the case of a second or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars according to the Education Act. The Minister may cancel the registration of a school giving a three months’ notice to the proprietor. The proprietor, upon receipt of the notice of cancellation of the registration of this school may, at any time before the date on which the cancellation takes effect, appeal in the prescribed manner to a Judge of the High Court in Chambers against cancellation.
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
