Why Don’t More Anglo-Caribbean Students Study in Neighboring Caribbean Countries Instead of the West?

I’ve always wondered why more students from Anglo-Caribbean countries don’t choose to study in other neighboring Caribbean nations instead of heading to Western countries. Places like Barbados and Grenada have amazing education systems, yet many still prefer to go to the U.S., Canada, or the U.K.

I get that currency differences and higher salaries in the West make it tempting—you can earn double or even triple for the same job. But in the long run, this doesn’t really benefit our regional economies. If we keep prioritizing individual gain over regional development, how will our countries grow?

I know, for example, that Western countries put in a lot of effort to attract foreign students because they pay more, making international education a highly profitable sector. This just goes to show that education is another industry where money can be made—and kept—within the Caribbean.

I know some students do study within the region, but it’s not widely promoted or normalized. Why do you think this is? Should there be more incentives for regional education, or is the current trend unavoidable?