National Youth Parliament Deputy Prime Minister Cyniya Ireland has called for the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus to offer a full engineering degree, saying students should have a pathway beyond associate-level studies.
Ireland, who also serves as Minister of National Security, Justice and Legal Affairs in the Youth Parliament, raised the issue during Friday’s debate on the Education Equity, Youth Development and Protection Resolution 2026.
Her proposal formed part of a broader argument for keeping young people connected to education and training beyond age 16 and ensuring that students have meaningful options suited to their career goals.
Ireland said the education system should provide different pathways for young people, including opportunities through the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies and agricultural and tertiary institutions.
She then specifically addressed engineering students.
“I also wish to let my engineers know at the ABCAS institution that we hear your cries that the engineering degree only ends at an associate,” Ireland said.
She continued: “We’re working to ensure that the University of the Five Islands will now offer a degree in engineering.”
The statement was made during the National Youth Parliament exercise and represents the youth government’s position and proposal, rather than an announcement by UWI Five Islands that an engineering degree has been approved.
Ireland argued that expanding educational opportunities is important because keeping young people engaged cannot simply mean requiring them to remain in a traditional classroom.
“It’s not simply about how long we keep a young person in education. It’s about what meaningful opportunities we present them with,” she said.
Her presentation also called for Antigua and Barbuda’s compulsory education age to be increased from 16 to 18, but she stressed that such a change should be accompanied by academic, technical and other pathways for students.
Ireland told the sitting that some young people thrive outside traditional academic programmes, including through entrepreneurship, music and other pursuits, and argued that policymakers must also consider those who leave school without qualifications, employment or another structured opportunity.
The engineering proposal fits into the wider education resolution debated by the Youth Parliament, which calls for stronger links among secondary education, technical and vocational training, tertiary studies, apprenticeships and employment.
The resolution also recognises that students have different abilities and interests and calls for credible academic, technical, vocational, professional and entrepreneurial pathways rather than treating one form of education as the only route to success.
The wider education resolution was subsequently passed unanimously, with all 14 Youth Parliament members voting in favour.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Youth Parliament Says UWI Five Islands Should Offer Engineering Degree.