Antigua and Barbuda’s education sector entered a new chapter on Tuesday with the unveiling of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), a groundbreaking institution designed to expand opportunity and drive national progress.

The launch took place at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort before an audience of educators, policymakers, and community leaders.

The amalgamation of the learning institutions in Antigua and Barbuda is a historic milestone in education.

Dr. Ezra Jonah Greene, President of ABCAS, described the college as a bold commitment to equity and innovation.

“Despite the challenges, we will make this venture successful. This institution represents more than classrooms and courses; it represents a promise…a promise that access to quality education will not be limited by geography and circumstances but will be nurtured right here in the heart of our nation…” “It is for every child, every worker, every grandma…it is the engine of education”.

With programmes spanning teacher training, business, technology, performing arts, hospitality, and vocational education, ABCAS is positioned to respond directly to the nation’s economic needs.

Already, the college has developed partnerships with universities and colleges in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

“This broad offering is intentional; it reflects the diverse talents of our people and the urgent needs of our economy,” she added.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Daryll Matthew framed the institution as part of a long journey of reinvention, tracing its roots back to the Leeward Islands Teachers Training College and Antigua State College. “This is not a rebrand,” he explained. “This is a metamorphosis in action. We are turning potential into power.”

Education Minister Daryll Matthew (photo by Daryll Matthew)

From second-chance opportunities for school leavers to advanced academic pathways at The UWI Five Islands Campus, the government is building a comprehensive system that places learning at the heart of nation-building, according to the minister.

“It is a marriage of missions. By consolidating, State College, ABHTI, and Harrison Center when it comes on stream…we gain what no single campus on its own can deliver…” he said

ABCAS, officials say, is both a symbol and a tool of that transformation, one that seeks to empower every Antiguans and Barbudans to dream bigger and achieve more.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gaston Browne says ASCAS will be the cornerstone of the inclusivity and progress the government has worked relentlessly to achieve.