The schooling in Antigua and Barbuda is compulsory for the age group of 5-12 years, and citizens have the right to education up to 16 years. Tuition is free in public schools. See TOPSCHOOLSINTHEUSA for TOEFL, ACT, SAT testing locations and high school codes in Antigua and Barbuda.
The school is divided into three stages: 2 years of preschool, 8 years of primary and 5 years of upper secondary school. There are three higher education institutions. About. 10% (2000) of the population are illiterate.
In 2002, Antigua and Barbuda, along with other Caribbean states, joined a program designed by the OECD aimed at increasing transparency in state administration and reducing the opportunities for money laundering in the financial system. In doing so, the country avoided being placed on the OECD’s black list of countries practicing money laundering by criminal organizations.
In 2003, Caribbean cooperation organization CARICOM Antigua appointed Foreign Minister Ronald Sanders as its new chairman. That same year, Antigua Tlatelolco signed the treaty banning the presence of nuclear weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In March 2004, Baldwin defeated Spencer of the United Progressive Party Lester Bird in the parliamentary elections, and Spencer was then able to take over the post of prime minister. Bird had then dominated Antigua’s political life since the 1950’s. In his takeover of power, Spencer stated that in his work he would focus in particular on combating the corruption that had developed into a pure epidemic. Acc. Spencer had Bird’s Workers Party do nothing during his reign to curb the spread of corruption. He also stated that the crimes committed by the party against the people would be punished. Bird dismissed all accusations, arguing that his party had already in 2002 adopted stricter anti-corruption laws.
Antigua and Barbuda flag source: Countryaah.com
The personal tax had been abolished in 1975, but was reintroduced in April 2005 in an attempt by the government to reduce the government deficit it had inherited from previous governments.
- Agooddir: Features recent history of Antigua and Barbuda starting from the second world war to 21st century.
The 16-23. March 2006 was conducted in St. Johns a seminar on money laundering and the financing of terrorism, organized by the government, the IMF and the US Treasury.