Antigua and Barbuda Advances Plans for Spanish as Second Language

Antigua and Barbuda may need as many as 20 additional Spanish teachers to carry out a proposed three-year expansion of the language throughout the nation’s schools.

The staffing requirement is among the recommendations contained in the Education Sector Implementation Plan 2026-2030, which Education Minister Daryll Matthew presented to Cabinet on Wednesday.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said Thursday that preliminary estimates show between 18 and 20 teachers would have to be recruited for the programme to be implemented fully.

“The preparation of a national staffing proposal” has been recommended to address the demand for additional teachers, Merchant said during the post-Cabinet news briefing.

The expansion would be introduced over three years, with the pace of implementation determined by the readiness of schools and the progression of students through the education system.

Spanish is already part of the school curriculum. The proposed policy would strengthen and standardize existing instruction, creating what the government described as a coherent, equitable and sustainable national programme.

The proposal also seeks to align the Spanish curriculum with internationally recognized language proficiency standards.

Although the government is moving to expand Spanish instruction, Merchant said French would remain part of the national modern language programme.

The plan specifically recommends “the strengthening of existing Spanish instruction while preserving and protecting French within the National Modern Language Programme,” he said.

The Ministry of Education also proposes seeking technical assistance from Spain, the Dominican Republic and other international partners. That cooperation would focus on teacher development, curriculum improvement and implementation of the programme.

Cabinet has started reviewing the policy brief but has not announced its final approval.

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