Antigua and Barbuda adopts permanent policy for up to 10 free CSEC subjects

Government makes CXC examination fee programme permanent policy

The Antigua and Barbuda government has formally adopted its national CXC examination fee support programme as permanent policy, ensuring eligible students will continue to receive government funding to sit regional examinations without paying entry fees.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant, speaking during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, said Cabinet approved the measure after the initiative was successfully introduced during the last academic year.

Merchant noted that the government had fulfilled its promise to pay examination fees for secondary school students sitting Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) assessments, enabling hundreds of students to take their examinations without the financial burden of registration costs.

He said the programme is now an established government policy designed to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent qualified students from obtaining regional certification.

Under the policy, the government will continue paying examination fees for eligible students enrolled in public and private secondary schools, the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) and approved homeschooling programmes.

The programme covers students sitting the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects.

Merchant said government funding will cover candidate entry fees, subject fees and local examination fees.

Students will be eligible for funding for up to five CCSLC subjects, up to 10 CSEC subjects and up to five CAPE subjects.

Cabinet said the programme represents a significant investment in the country’s human capital by expanding access to quality education, increasing opportunities for tertiary education and employment, and strengthening Antigua and Barbuda’s future workforce.

Merchant outlined the eligibility requirements, stating that applicants must be citizens of Antigua and Barbuda or citizens of Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member states that offer reciprocal benefits. Students must also be enrolled in a registered public or private secondary school, an approved homeschooling programme or ABCAS, be recommended by their school principal, satisfy the Ministry of Education’s attendance requirements and be first-time candidates for the subjects they are entering.

He added that students seeking to have examination papers re-marked or challenging their grades will remain responsible for paying those associated fees.

Merchant said further details on the programme will be published in the official Cabinet Notes.

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