GOVERNMENT OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS INCREASES BUDGET FOR EDUCATION AND LAUNCHES INITIATIVES TO EMPOWER CITIZENS

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has significantly increased the national budget allocation for education, reflecting its steadfast commitment to making education accessible at all levels. From preschool to tertiary education, the government continues to invest heavily to ensure the country’s young people are well-equipped to succeed.

In 2023, the budget allocation for education was EC $93 million, which increased to $97 million in 2024. For 2025, the allocation has surged to an unprecedented $120 million. Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, during the RoundTable on Tuesday, January 07, 2025, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to education as a fundamental pillar of national development.

“Secondary education is free. College education is free. Preschool is free for some and heavily subsidized for others. St. Kitts and Nevis can boast that education is accessible for our young people,” stated Dr. Drew.

The increased budget also supports initiatives that help citizens and residents access tertiary education. These include expanded financial assistance for economic costs and a commitment to ensuring the St. Kitts and Nevis Development Bank provides positive support for education.

The government has also announced new initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, recognising the critical link between education and economic empowerment. The Small Business Facility, funded by the central government through the St. Kitts and Nevis Development Bank, is designed to provide financial support and opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs.

“We are expanding small businesses so that more of our people can have access,” said Dr. Drew. “This initiative has already benefited many and will continue to create opportunities for our citizens to thrive.”

Additionally, the government launched the ASPIRE Programme in November 2024, an innovative initiative focused on educating young people about financial literacy. The programme  teaches essential skills such as money management, budgeting, and starting a small business, while also helping participants to build wealth from an early age.

“There is money allocated for this ASPIRE Programme that would benefit 10.5 million young people. The only place in the Caribbean, and I think in the Western Hemisphere…you will realise that we have this programme as a programme that is only in Saint Kitts and Nevis, where young people get an account where they save and they will be able to buy shares into companies,” he said. “So even before they leave school, they are accumulating wealth with the education that goes with it,” Dr. Drew explained.

Prime Minister Drew said that these investments and initiatives underscore the government’s vision for a future where education and entrepreneurship empower every citizen to reach their fullest potential. The combined efforts are paving the way for a more educated, financially literate, and economically vibrant St. Kitts and Nevis.