Sir Molwyn Joseph has declared that the government intends to ensure every village in Antigua and Barbuda has access to early childhood education, describing it as a matter of justice and national development.

“We cannot have a system where that opportunity is only for the middle and upper classes,” the Health Minister told Parliament during debate on the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) Bill. “It would not be right. It would not be just.”

He noted that access to early childhood learning plays a crucial role in shaping future outcomes, especially in cognitive, social, and emotional development. “Three-year-old children today are ready to be educated,” he said, adding that it was unacceptable for access to be limited by geography or income.

Sir Molwyn revealed that the Cabinet had already agreed to the policy, and pledged that efforts were underway to create early childhood centres in under-served communities. “I look forward to working with the Minister of Education to deliver one in Jennings,” he said, referencing the need in his own constituency.

He argued that a lack of early education contributes to long-term disparities in student performance. “Some private schools are outperforming public secondary schools because their children were exposed early,” he said.

The Minister called for government-supported centres where parents can drop off their children while they go to work. “Like a free daycare centre,” he explained, “but one that focuses on education, not just supervision.”

His remarks came as Parliament approved the ABCAS Bill, which consolidates four existing institutions into one statutory college and forms part of a broader education reform effort.

“This is about giving all our children the same starting line,” Sir Molwyn said. “And we must do it for every community.”