AWRIGHT
It has been proposed that for the faculties of Science, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, full-time students will pay tuition fees of $5 625 while law students and medical students will pay $8 808 and $16 618, respectively. What some people may not have realized is that these figures do not include amenity fees.
Some have argued this is long overdue while others disagree. Regardless of the arguments, I believe the way in which it was communicated to the public was inappropriate. Free education is one of the foundational pillars this country was developed on and as a result the Government had a right to dialogue with its citizens first before making a concrete decision on such an important matter.
Over the years, citizens of this country have had many increases and cuts that have caused some strain and discomforts to their standard of living. Despite the discomforts, I believe what kept citizens, especially parents, hopeful was that their children still received free health care and education. It is indeed a hard thing for us citizens to face new taxes, increases in utilities, various cuts and now full tuition fees without having any increases in salaries.
I strongly believe there will be a significant dropout of local UWI students and a decline in new students over the next few years due to their inability to adequately finance their education caused by this new development.
Students who would have enrolled at UWI prior to the 2013/2014 academic year would have done so based on the expectation that Government would pay their full tuition and economic costs. Some students may have rejected job offers and even resigned from jobs in pursuit of a university degree. To have this thrown upon them so suddenly with only a preparation time of one year is hard and may even be defined as unprincipled.
If there is indeed a significant decline in new students and a dropout of current ones, it would immediately affect the need for the number of administrative and teaching staff currently employed at the university. Eventually, the university will have to lay off staff as all of them won’t be needed.
If students drop out of UWI, it would mean they will have to look for work but there aren’t many jobs available in the private sector and Government has put a freeze on all public sector hiring.
The Government has communicated that measures will be put in place via a means-testing system so the most vulnerable would not be denied the opportunity to go to UWI. The operation of that system and how people will qualify hasn’t been communicated as yet but this is an option available to students.
There are also plans of topping up the Student Revolving Loan. Although this is another option, I am still waiting to find out where the money to top up that account will come from and if the loan will come with a fixed interest payment on the principal.
Another option is to apply for a bank loan but I can’t see banks lending them any money since they have no way in which to pay it back.
There is still another option available to some. For years, I have heard the credit unions speak highly of the amount of savings some Barbadians have accumulated with them. Parents who have savings stored for retirement or recreational activities will have to make a decision whether to use that money to fund their child’s education. This may lead to many parents’ reverting to unique disciplinary actions towards children who waste their hard-earned money. It can also lead to a positive national change in attitude towards money and education and create a culture of responsibility and gratefulness.
It seems due to the delinquency and wastage of some students, all students are being asked to pay.
As my friend Corey rightfully articulated, if Peter pays for Paul and Paul pays for all, then “all” never pays and never takes responsibility.
• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.
