As students prepare to re-enter the classrooms for the new school year, Education Minister Sharie de Castro announced a record 67.4 million dollars and an additional 1.8 million from a SAP which have been added to the Education budget.
The Education Minister described the investment as the largest in the territory’s history, noting that it represents an $11 million increase over last year’s allocation.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building strong, innovative learning environments, saying “Education is not an expense it is saving account and every dollar deposited is a seed sown.
The Minister emphasized that this historic funding is laying the foundation for lasting progress.
Minister de Castro noted that renovations and upgrades have been completed across Francis Lettsome, Enis Adams, Ebenezer Thomas, Joyce Samuel, and Alexandrina Maduro Primary Schools, while classrooms across the territory are now benefiting from air-conditioning, electrical upgrades, and enhanced safety systems.
She also celebrated the upcoming opening of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre on 8 September, calling it the first purpose-built special education school in the OECS region and a major milestone for exceptional learners across the territory.
Plans were unveiled for a reimagined Althea Scatliffe Primary School, presenting designs that promise modern facilities tailored to support 21st-century learning.
A transformative milestone for tertiary education was also announced: H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is preparing to become a four-year degree-granting institution, beginning with education degrees, ensuring that teachers and students can pursue advanced learning without leaving the Territory.
