The consolidation of several tertiary institutions into the newly established Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) will not lead to job losses, Education Minister Daryll Matthew has confirmed.

Speaking on ABS’s First Look, Matthew said the merger aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency without displacing staff.

“There is no individual — and I want to repeat — there is no individual who will be sent home,” the minister said.

Under the reform, institutions such as the Antigua State College, the Hospitality Training Institute, and the Abbott Centre will be integrated into one umbrella body, each functioning as a school within ABCAS.

The goal is to reduce administrative duplication, harmonize academic offerings, and better utilize infrastructure.

Matthew acknowledged that the restructuring may result in changes to staff roles, particularly in areas like accounting and administration, but assured that personnel will be absorbed elsewhere in the public service where necessary.

“There may be some departments where you’ll have excess capacity… but we will ensure that they are absorbed within the public service,” he said.

The education minister explained that having multiple institutions offering similar programmes — such as associate degrees in business administration — was inefficient for a country with limited human resources.

“We’re a small population,” he said. “It just is not the most efficient way to operate.”

He added that the merger will also improve classroom utilization. For example, the ABIIT Centre is largely unused during the day, while the Antigua State College faces overcrowding.

By combining resources, ABCAS will be able to maximize space and deliver a more unified, accessible academic experience.

Each campus will be renamed to honour distinguished national educators, including Dr. Alister Francis and the late Sir Eustace Hill.

The bill establishing the new college was recently debated in Parliament and is part of broader efforts to enhance access to quality tertiary education in Antigua and Barbuda.