Education in the Bahamas

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Education in the Bahamas is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16.^[1] As of 2003, the school attendance rate was 92% and the literacy rate was 95.5%.^[1] The government fully operates 158 of the 210 primary and secondary schools in The Bahamas.^[1] The other 55 schools are privately operated.^[1] Enrollment for state primary and secondary schools is 50,332, with more than 16,000 students attending private schools.^[1] Some public schools lack basic educational materials and are overcrowded.^[2] The Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) were the ones who acted to create some reform for their weakening education systems. The island has an Education Act that was revised in 1996 and is under control of the Prime Minister. As of 1996, the Education Act states that education is free for children between the ages of 5 and 16.^[3] The University of the Bahamas, established in Nassau in 1974, provides programs leading to bachelors and associate degrees.^[1] Several non-Bahamian colleges also offer higher education programs in The Bahamas.^[1] Generally, the academic year in The Bahamas goes from late August or early September to late May or early June for primary and secondary schools and late April/early May for college.