Education Minister Daryll Matthew has pledged that students will remain at the core of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), which officially opened this week.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Matthew said the new institution would guarantee recognition of credits, provide clear graduation pathways, and ensure transparent communication throughout students’ academic journeys.
The Minister also committed to supporting staff with professional development opportunities, defined job roles, and fair procedures. “To the staff who have carried these institutions through the decades, your work has made ABCAS possible,” he said.
Preserving legacy institutions
Mr Matthew underlined that the heritage of the Antigua State College, ABICE, ABHTI, and ABIIT would be safeguarded, with each retaining its identity as a faculty within ABCAS. This, he said, would allow their strengths to be shared while respecting their histories.
Focus on quality and growth
He assured that ABCAS would uphold rigorous standards of accreditation, including regular curriculum reviews and external moderation of exams. Partnerships with students, parents, and industry would be key in shaping the college into what he described as a “permanent, practical, and powerful force in education.”
Framing education as central to national development, Mr Matthew concluded: “Economies advance when education accelerates.”
