Mission Statement
To be a corporation of excellence designed to facilitate an enhance education throughout the country, by providing services to assist in the effective delivery of education through the impartial distnbution of scholarships to citizens and by providing books to educational institutions by means of the efficient collection of education levies while continuously operating within the laws of government.
Vision Statement
To remain committed to advancing the cause of educational development in Antigua & Barbuda by being responsible stewards of its resources.
The Purpose of the Board
The Board of Education was established by the Board of Education Act, 1994 of the Laws of Antigua and Barbuda. The purpose of the Board is to effectively manage the sums generated from the Education Levy towards the provision of:
- Financial assistance, bursaries and scholarships for citizens and nationals of Antigua and Barbuda;
- Finances towards the management and administration of the textbook scheme; and
- Finances towards areas which the Minister may direct from time to time for studies and training
Our History 1995
The Board was formed in January of 1995, with twelve (12) members and an Executive Secretary. The late Mr. Christopher Manasseh O’Mard was appointed Chairman and Mr. Sam Aymer was Deputy Chairman.
Service Excellence
We will strive always to provide high quality, timely and reliable services to all stakeholders, customers – both internal and external – and the general public.
Collaboration
We will create and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships with all stakeholders as we seek to enhance the delivery of education to the nation.
Education and Awareness
We will provide information relevant to the success of all initiatives associated with the fulfilment of our mandate, as we seek to remain ever vigilante to the changes in the educational landscape.
Teamwork
We believe that each department is a critical and the success of the whole is, therefore, contingent upon our ability to effectively and harmoniously work together.
Information Systems
We will implement and maintain technologically relevant information systems, software and equipment that will enable increased productivity and effective delivery of our services to the nation.
Ethics
Integrity, professionalism and equality are the characteristic that will define our daily operations.
HRD
Our commitment to our employees, one of our most valuable resources, will be shown through continuous investment in staff development and training, equitable hiring, and fair promotion practices.
Change
We will engender the spirit of cooperation and flexibility so as to adequately deal with the demands of a changing economy, technology and educational policies.
Stewardship
We will be responsible stewards of all resources for which we are accountable. We will: Implement and maintain efficient systems to ensure that collections are collected on a timely basis; Pursue, through reasonable and efficient means, all sundry debtors to ensure that outstanding funds are recouped; Apply prudent financial management in the exercise of our duties; and Produce and present timely and professionally compiled reports of the operations of the organisation.
History of the Board of Education
The first meeting of the Board was held on Tuesday 7 th February 1995 at the O. E. C. S. Secretariat Conference Room, Lower Long Street, St. John’s, Antigua, W.I. Up until his death in late July 1995, Mr. O’Mard chaired fourteen meetings of the Board, the last meeting being Wednesday July 19 th , 1995. Mr. Cottrille George, was appointed Interim Chairman, on 2 nd August 1995 and chaired one meeting which was held on 2 nd August 1995 (15 th Meeting). Mr. Sam Aymer was appointed Chairman of the Board in August 1995 and chaired his first meeting on 28 th August, 1995. Mr. George was subsequently appointed Deputy Chairman of the Board of Education. Mr. Aymer sat as Chairman for nearly a year until his promotion to Ministerial Duties, in June 1996. Mr. Aymer’s last meeting as Chairman was 28 th May, 1996 – 28 th meeting. Mr. Kevin Belizaire was then appointed Chairman and until May 1998. In June 1998 (52nd meeting of the Board), Mr. Wilbur Harrigan became Chair. Mr. Harrigan was subsequently replaced in November 2002, and Senator Samuel Aymer took up Chairmanship in December 2002 until the Board was dissolved in March 2004. Dr. Ermina Osoba headed the new Board in 2004 until that was dissolved in 2009. Thereafter, the Board was led by Gregory H. Walter, Esq. followed by Heather G. Mannix until the June 2014 elections.
Current Board Members
- Ms. Denise Gardiner – Chairman
- Ms. Sonya Baptiste – Deputy Chairman
- Mrs. Carla Farquhar – Executive Secretary
- Mrs. Rosa Greenaway
- Ms. Ava Elabanjo
- Mr. Charlesworth Browne
- Mr. Huburn Edwards
- Ms. Ineta Francis
- Ms. Renata Joseph
Benefits
In addition to scholarships and textbooks, the Board of Education offers several benefits aimed at improving the educational system of Antigua and Barbuda. Benefits including the provisions of supplies and materials for the curriculum areas; payment of contributions to the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) on behalf of the GOAB, payment of contributions to the University of the West Indies (UWI) on behalf of the GOAB, contributions to the upkeep, maintenance and continuity of the Antigua State College (ASC), Government School Grounds maintenance, provision and maintenance of equipment and computers to the schools, provision of supplies to the schools, repairing and refurbishing of the physical school plants, funding for the award of scholarships and bursaries and the supply of textbooks to all schools, approved by the Ministry of Education.
Financing The Board
The Board obtains its funding via a contributions deducted from the earnings of all gainfully employed or self-employed persons sixteen (16) years old or more. The rates levied are implemented as follows:
(a) The first six thousand, five hundred dollars ($6,500.00) of the annual income of every person to whom this Act applies shall be exempted from the payment of the levy.
(b) The levy charged under this section shall be paid monthly or weekly as the case may be.
(c) Subject to subsection (a) the following rates shall be levied on the remainder of all salaries and wages after deduction of the first six thousand and five hundred dollar
- Two and a half percentum (2.5%) of any annual income between six thousand, five hundred dollars ($6,500.00) to sixty thousand dollars ($60,000.00).
- Five percentum (5%) of any portion of any annual income over sixty thousand dollars ($60,000.00).
- In respect of each weekly or monthly period for which an employee is paid wages, the employer shall deduct for such weekly or monthly period the prescribed percentage in relation to the salary or wages paid to the employee.
Our Skilled Instructors
Daziy Millar
Rosy Janner
David Lee
Mike Hussy
Tom Steven
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