The field known as Education Finance deals with the process by which tax revenue is raised and other resources are tapped for the development and management of educational institutions. Education Finance also deals with the process by which these resources are allocated to meet the needs of the various "loads" in the sector.

In this vein it augurs well to ascertain the perspective to the following questions in the decision making process of the education system.

Who will be educated? How much education will be provided? What type of education will be provided?

The financial implications of these decisions constitute the major foundation for the direction of a system of finance for education, which will provide the answers to the basic questions of:

who should pay the costs of resources that are required for schooling? What is the appropriate structure for the management of the education system?

Responses to these questions provide the basis for two major questions:

How will finances be obtained? How will resources be allocated to the different levels and needs?

Every society must decide on the most appropriate means of funding its educational system. During the past ten years, the Antiguan and Barbudan society has become aware of the deteriorating standard of education in the Nation, resulting in the advancing of a multiplicity of ideas to improve the system. Foremost among the thoughts have been the NEED TO RAISE MONEYS TO ADEQUATELY FUND A DYNAMIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has decided that it is prudent and necessary to establish a stream of revenue to strengthen the delivery of public education in the Nation. Acting on the decision of Cabinet, after consultation with the minister of finance, taking into consideration the Government's obligation as per the OECS Education Reform Strategy, analysing the need to provide a dynamic and relevant educational environment for the effective development of our youths, the measure was presented and passed in the 1994 national budget.

The objectives of this measure are outlined below:

To increase the financial resources allocated to education from all
sources.

To maximize the efficient and effective deployment of such
resources. To promote long-term investment in programmes and
projects and in the education sector generally.

To ensure public accountability for the funds allocated or granted.

Funding Programmes