{"id":218668,"date":"2024-12-12T06:05:32","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T10:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=218668"},"modified":"2024-12-12T06:06:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T10:06:35","slug":"education-budget-cuts-draw-criticism-from-opposition-mp-richard-lewis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/education-budget-cuts-draw-criticism-from-opposition-mp-richard-lewis\/","title":{"rendered":"Education Budget Cuts Draw Criticism from Opposition MP Richard Lewis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Opposition Member of Parliament Richard Lewis has raised strong concerns about reductions in the education budget, calling into question the government\u2019s commitment to improving Antigua and Barbuda\u2019s education system. Speaking during the 2025 national budget debate, Lewis pointed to a significant decrease in funding for education and sports, highlighting its potential impact on schools, students, and the broader community.<\/p>

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Citing figures from the government\u2019s business plan, Lewis revealed that the education sector has been allocated $174.58 million for recurrent expenditure in 2025\u2014a drop of $10 million compared to the previous year. He also noted that while salaries and transfers account for 91.6% of the total allocation, this leaves only $14.7 million to cover other critical expenses, a decrease of $8.7 million or 37% from the prior year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducation is the backbone of any society, yet we are seeing cuts that will further strain a system already facing significant challenges,\u201d Lewis remarked. He emphasized that the reduction will hamper the ability of schools to implement necessary programs, improve infrastructure, and provide quality resources for students.<\/p>

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Lewis also criticized the absence of a detailed business plan for primary and secondary education, which he described as an \u201cunacceptable oversight.\u201d He expressed concern that without a clear strategy, critical areas of education risk being neglected.<\/p>

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\u201cPrimary and secondary education are the foundation of our learning process, yet there is no clear outline in this budget of how we plan to support these critical stages,\u201d he said. He called on the Ministry of Education to submit comprehensive plans to Parliament, ensuring accountability and transparency in the sector\u2019s future development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lewis underscored the urgency of addressing the country\u2019s low academic performance, particularly in key subjects such as mathematics and English. He pointed to the alarming statistic that only 19% of students achieved passes in five or more subjects, including math and English, in 2024\u2014a regression from 22% in 2023.<\/p>

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To tackle this issue, Lewis proposed a series of remedial measures, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n