Independent Senator Jamilla Kirwan on Wednesday welcomed the government’s decision to reimburse Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) fees and expand free tuition, but cautioned that long-term sustainability must remain central to education policy as the popular measures take effect.
Contributing to the Senate debate on the 2026 budget, Kirwan said the move to fully cover CSEC and CAPE examination fees represents meaningful relief for families and reflects the government’s commitment to easing financial barriers to education.
She also supported the extension of free tertiary education at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus and other local institutions, describing the initiatives as significant investments in youth development and human capital.
However, Kirwan warned that regional experience shows such policies can become difficult to sustain without careful planning.
She told senators that while Antigua and Barbuda’s approach places it among Caribbean countries seeking to reduce the cost of secondary and tertiary education, other jurisdictions have reversed similar decisions after confronting fiscal pressures.
Kirwan cited the British Virgin Islands as an example, noting that its government previously covered CXC examination fees but later discontinued the policy due to sustainability concerns.
“These regional experiences underscore an important consideration,” she said, arguing that while expanded access is laudable, governments must ensure that generosity today does not become a financial burden tomorrow.
Kirwan said free access to education creates both opportunity and responsibility, particularly as more students benefit from government-funded exams and tuition at the secondary and tertiary levels.
She suggested that policymakers may need to explore structured funding models to support long-term viability, especially as enrollment grows and costs increase.
The senator also highlighted the importance of forward planning at the tertiary level, noting that expanded access at UWI Five Islands will require adequate housing, support services and campus infrastructure to ensure growth does not outpace capacity.
Kirwan said sustainability concerns should not be interpreted as opposition to the policy, but rather as a call for disciplined implementation and periodic review.
“Maintenance and sustainability must remain central to policy design,” she said, linking education financing to her broader argument that public investments require long-term planning, accountability and clear funding mechanisms.
The education measures form part of the government’s wider social investment package outlined during the 2026 budget debate, which allocated the largest share of spending to the education sector.