The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a loan of US$56.2 million to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for the Education Enhancement and Quality Improvement Project (E-EQUIP), a bold investment in climate-resilient schools, teacher training and programmes that will continue to transform the education system for inclusive and accelerated national development. 

Approved at the Board’s 315th Meeting, held recently in Barbados, the project is expected to benefit more than 10,000 students including 2,400 young people with skills for work and life. 

Building on the country’s achievement of universal access to basic education, E-EQUIP will enable Antigua and Barbuda to advance solutions for improving the quality, equity, relevance and resilience of the education system. The project will rehabilitate and expand four schools – Sir Novelle Richards Academy, Antigua Girls’ High School, Ottos Comprehensive School and Golden Grove Primary School – as inclusive, energy-efficient, disability-accessible facilities built to withstand hurricanes and flooding. In times of emergency, they will also serve as community shelters. 

“Every child deserves a safe, modern school where they can learn and thrive. Through E-EQUIP, CDB is helping Antigua and Barbuda build resilient classrooms, empower its teachers and open doors to opportunity, so today’s students become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators,” said Mr. L. O’Reilly Lewis, Director of Projects, CDB.  

The project reaches beyond enhancing the physical environment of schools. It will implement CDB’s Improving Mathematics Proficiency Across Caribbean Countries (IMPACT) programme to raise Mathematics proficiency in every primary and secondary school and strengthen the instructional and leadership skills of more than 750 teachers, school leaders and Ministry staff.  

E-EQUIP will also expand support for students with special educational needs, fund competitive grants for schools to pursue their own improvement priorities and modernise the Education Act of 2008. In addition, it will prepare designs to transform two secondary schools into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centres of Excellence. Strong foundations in Mathematics, Science and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) are the surest route to opportunity, and this project is an investment in development of those critical skills and competencies of every learner. 

In addition to CDB financing, the Government will contribute US$23.565 million, bringing the total project cost to approximately US$79.8 million. The Ministry of Education will implement the E-EQUIP project from 2027 to 2031. 

E-EQUIP reflects CDB’s commitment to social development across its Borrowing Member Countries, and to giving every learner the chance to thrive. 

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