The Government of Saint Lucia is maintaining a broad package of education and family support measures as students, parents, teachers and school workers prepare for the start of the new academic year.
The measures, which span early childhood through tertiary education, are being maintained despite continued pressure on the Government’s finances, including the cost of shielding households from higher international fuel prices.
Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre has reaffirmed that the financial pressures facing the Government will not diminish its commitment to education.
“Education remains a priority of this Government,” Prime Minister Pierre has stated, emphasising the importance of ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent Saint Lucian children and young people from accessing educational opportunities.
As part of the support for the new school year, every student entering Form One will receive a new laptop and a $500 bursary to assist with back-to-school expenses. The Government’s Book Bursary Programme also continues to provide support to eligible students with school books.
Education assistance through constituency offices and the Social Development Fund is ongoing, while bursary assistance remains available to students attending the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. The Government’s 2026/27 bursary program also provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing studies at SALCC, its Southern Extension, the CAPE Program at Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School and the Ministry of Education Post-Secondary Program.
Support extends to teachers and school workers. The $1,400 Teaching Material Allowance continues, while temporary teachers will receive their full salaries for August. For the first time, school support staff, including cooks and cleaners, will also be paid for August.
The Government is also maintaining its investment in early-childhood education. Each private early-childhood centre will continue to receive an annual grant of $3,000, while the $100-per-term tuition subsidy for each child attending a private preschool will continue.
The support is complemented by employment assistance ahead of the new school year. The latest cycle of the Short-Term Employment Programme was scheduled to provide approximately 3,000 participants with an opportunity to earn income to help meet back-to-school expenses.
At the secondary level, the Government is also expanding assistance with external examinations. Under the 2026/27 Budget, Government will pay for five CSEC subjects, further reducing examination costs for families.
The Government’s support for education also extends beyond secondary school. The Department of Education and Digital Transformation launched the UNI PASS Grant in 2024 to provide one-time financial assistance to eligible students pursuing bachelor’s degrees, with support available for costs such as tuition, accommodation, transportation, and books.
“These measures reflect the Government’s continued commitment to investing in Saint Lucia’s people and ensuring that the cost of education does not become a barrier to opportunity,” the Office of the Prime Minister said.
As the new school year approaches, the Government remains focused on providing practical assistance to families while strengthening access to education at every stage, from early childhood to tertiary education.
