Education is an important process during which a person acquires knowledge, learns to interact, engages with the culture, and adopts the values of society. In this report, we have focused on attention on four key regions in the Caribbean: Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and the Netherlands Antilles.
Education in the Bahamas is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 18. The Bahamas has an Education Act, which was revised in 1996 and is overseen by the Prime Minister. Since 1996, the Education Act has stated that education is free for children between the ages of 5 and 16. The University of the Bahamas, founded in Nassau in 1974, offers programs in both graduate and undergraduate studies. Bahamian education includes primary, secondary, higher education, with the recent addition of preschools before these three levels. All education that is given to students in the Bahamas, along with their policies, is provided by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.
In the Bahamas, the Department of Education, Science and Technology is led by the Minister for Education and Technical and Vocational Training.. The Department oversees 158 of the 210 elementary and secondary schools in the Bahamas. The Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training strictly enforces policies and guidelines regarding private and public schools. He/she is assisted by the Permanent Secretary and Director of Education who heads the Department of Education which is mainly responsible for the day to day running of all schools, ensuring that all procedures and protocol instructions are followed.
There are several colleges throughout the country that are open to students who wish further education. In 1974, one of the largest colleges in the Bahamas opened its doors offering degrees, certificates, and diplomas. By August 2016, Jerome Fitzgerald, President of the University's Academic Committee, announced that the College of the Bahamas was officially the University of the Bahamas.
The university states that its mission is to promote higher education for its students that will benefit them in all aspects of their careers. The University of the Bahamas is committed to building the commonwealth of its country.
Established in 1978, the Center for Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Bahamas is an integral part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Mona University. Students can earn a bachelor's degree in hospitality and tourism management. The Master's Degree in Hospitality Management is available in partnership with Florida International University. It also has campuses in Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica. The Government of the Bahamas makes a financial contribution to UWI.