St John’s, Antigua – A pilot project to extend school hours until 3pm will be launched next week at Sir Novelle Richards Academy and Glanvilles Secondary School.

Director of Education Clare Browne says the program will introduce co-curricular activities and after-school classes to give students additional teacher interaction and exposure.

The extended hours will initially apply on specific days: Mondays and Wednesdays for Sir Novelle Richards Academy and Tuesdays and Thursdays for Glanvilles Secondary. Browne notes that the full implementation may be gradual as minor adjustments are still being made.

The Ministry of Education is collaborating with the Department of Creative Industries and Culture Director Khan Cordice to finalize subject offerings. Schools will also have flexibility to add subjects based on student interests.

To ensure proper placement, the ministry will distribute forms to gauge student interest. Participation in the program is mandatory unless students can provide credible proof of involvement in other educational activities.“There are some students that are already involved in a meaningful after-school programme and the Ministry of Education is not trying to remove them from these programmes,” Browne said. However, Students in such programs must submit signed letters as proof of their involvement.

The pilot will run until the end of the academic year, after which its success will be evaluated. Browne says the ministry is committed to expanding the initiative over time, adding more days as schools build capacity. “We’re in this for the long haul. We’ll add more days as things go on,” he said with a focus on strengthening the schools’ capacities.

This initiative aims to promote holistic development, a priority that gained traction after rising concerns about violence among school-aged children. Public secondary schools currently operate from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the extended hours are seen as a step toward addressing these challenges.

Individuals or organizations interested in contributing to the program are encouraged to contact the school principal or the Ministry of Education.