Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis this past Friday announced that the government is providing $1 million through the Small Business Development Centre and the Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund for the development of preschools.

He added that this funding will support equity and loans up to $150,000 to qualifying educational institutions that offer preschool education and that are participating in the Ministry of Education’s Universal Preschool program. 

“These sums will provide private preschool operators the means to expand their facilities, to meet the demand for preschool seats that will be created by this program,” Dr. Minnis said.

“Listen to me carefully. We will also promote access to crown land for the development of preschools.  This is especially important for our Family Islands, where education entrepreneurs, who meet the requirements and standards of the Ministry of Education, will be able to build preschools duty free.”

The prime minister’s comments came during his address at the 2019 torchbearers Youth Convention.