ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - The government of Antigua and Barbuda says it is considering how to integrate a prominent private school that announced its closure last weekend.
Director of Education, Clare Browne, says while the Ministry had been blindsided by the sudden closure of St. Andrews School, with no prior notice from school officials, the ministry is now considering ways to integrate the school into the public system to preserve its legacy and serve the affected community.
A statement from the ministry said that Education Minister Daryll Matthew has directed senior officials within the ministry to dialogue with management of the school on the way forward.
He has also held talks with Prime Minister Gaston Browne to assess the implications of the school’s closure on students, faculty, and the broader educational landscape.
“We recognize the deep disruption this development may cause for students, parents, and educators alike,” Mathew is quoted as saying in the statement.
“As a government, we are determined to pursue every viable avenue to ensure that no child is left behind and that every teacher is supported during this transition.
“Our aim is to maintain continuity in education and preserve the learning environment for the students currently enrolled at St. Andrews. If the conditions allow, one option could be integrating the facility, students, and teachers into the public school system. Of course, this would be subject to the willingness of the school’s current owners to sell, and the successful completion of the necessary due diligence by government authorities,” he added.
Media reports said that the parents and staff of the school were informed of the June 27 closure by principal, Andrea Walter, last Friday.
In her letter to parents/guardians, Walter noted that the school relies almost exclusively on school fees to finance its operations with fundraising helping to cover the shortfall. However, she noted that the institution was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, from which it never truly recovered.
Lowering of the school fees and other measures did not stem the exodus of some students. Despite the challenges, Walter said the management decided to keep the school open as long as possible, but that now they must make the ‘painful’ decision of closing the institution.
It is not immediately known what is the student count of the school, or whether or not it is linked to the first St. Andrew’s School that was opened here in 1862 by Reverend Edward Sherman Venn.
