The education system in Antigua and Barbuda is heavily influenced by the British system, a legacy of British rule for so many years. There are both public and private schools available and education can begin as early as the age of three in one of the many kindergartens across the country. From the age of five or six a child can attend a primary school until the age of twelve, then begin secondary education for a further four or five years.

It is compulsory for children in Antigua and Barbuda to attend school between the ages of 5 and 16. There are over 70 schools spread across the country and most of these are state run. Class size averages around 20 students and Antigua has one of the highest literacy rates in the Caribbean.

The country also has three colleges, which includes the University of Health Sciences, University of the West Indies (which also has branches in other parts of the Caribbean) and the Antigua State College which provides technical and teacher training. Students who wish to study for degrees that are not available in the country opt for universities in Europe or North America.

There are several private schools available if you prefer not to use state run institutions. It is worth noting that the fees for these can be quite high and there may be waiting lists, depending upon the location and cost of the school.

School curriculums in the country are similar to those in the UK and the US. Students cover the basic core subjects such as English, maths, sciences, history and geography, with some schools making the study of a second language compulsory, usually Spanish. Religious studies are usually only compulsory if the school is affiliated to a church. Schools are also making increasing use of new technology, such as computers, so information technology studies are becoming more commonplace.

Most teachers in the country are trained at the Antigua State College, but there are also a number who have chosen to study abroad. Teachers must have a qualified teacher status and there are programmes in place to ensure that they are kept up to date with new technology and that they are able to incorporate this into their classes.

For children who have special needs there are extra facilities provided though most are in mainstream schools. If teachers require special training then this is provided.