University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced that students enrolled in law programmes at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus will receive Government assistance covering up to 50 percent of their tuition costs.
The decision was approved by Cabinet as part of the Government’s broader commitment to expanding access to higher education and building a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting the country’s continued development.
Cabinet noted that the initiative recognizes the strategic importance of legal education and is intended to encourage more Antiguans and Barbudans to pursue studies in law while reducing the financial burden associated with obtaining a legal education.
The support for law students forms part of the Government’s wider education agenda, which includes the introduction of free tuition for eligible students pursuing their first undergraduate degree at the UWI Five Islands Campus.
Students pursuing postgraduate and professional degrees will continue to bear the cost of their tuition, except in areas where the Government determines that national development priorities warrant special assistance.
Cabinet also established a sub-committee comprising the Minister for Education, the Minister responsible for Social Transformation and the Minister for Information Communication Technology to engage with the administration of UWI Five Islands.
The committee will identify programmes and partnerships that align with Antigua and Barbuda’s national development agenda and support the continued expansion of the campus.
The Government said its investment in education is ultimately an investment in the nation’s future, with the aim of ensuring that UWI Five Islands evolves into a premier institution capable of meeting the educational and workforce needs of Antigua and Barbuda and the wider region.
The tuition support initiative is expected to create greater opportunities for aspiring lawyers and contribute to the development of a stronger legal profession in Antigua and Barbuda.
This can help produce more Antiguan lawyers instead of always looking overseas
Good start, but hopefully one day they can make law school fully free too
Big help for parents because law school expenses does scare plenty families
This is excellent news for young people who dream of becoming lawyers but simply cannot afford the tuition costs.
As a taxpayer, I don’t mind helping students, but I would like to see a breakdown of the cost and expected benefits.