The new fees for the academic year 2013-2014 of the University of the West Indies have been announced and the pressure is on for some parents and children.
The increase of tuition fees in such a time of economic uncertainty has truly left some parents and children out to sea like a ship without a sail. These fees, ranging from $6 675 to $17 668 a year, have left many parents and children “catspraddled” and wondering what next.
Some parents have been scratching their heads and in some cases pulling out their hair wondering how they are going to find the funds to pay for the education of their children.
Having two children myself of university matriculation – one already enrolled and the other awaiting acceptance to the Faculty of Science and Technology for 2014 – I do understand the pressure other parents are feeling. With a cost of almost $14 000 in tuition fees for two children, exclusive of textbooks, I can empathise with those parents out there who might be pulling out their hair.
All this has left me wondering how this hike in fees has impacted on other families. Of deep concern are those children who, though poor, have the intellectual capacity to pursue a university degree but will be unable to do so because they do not have the funds.
These young people may now believe that having a university degree is far beyond their reach. Furthermore, due to financial constraints, their parents are unable to qualify for a student/bank loan, making the journey towards a degree more difficult. The writing is on the wall; their dream of having a university degree will remain just that – a dream.
There is a strong message for those children who are pursuing their degree. Do not waste the valuable time spent at the institution. It is important to “buckle down” and produce, understanding and appreciating the sacrifices made and in most cases the debt parents put themselves through investing in their education. Remember that every dollar counts and the opportunity wasted is one some other child wishes he/she had.
With the rising cost of education, parents must decide if it is wise to increase family size by having more children. In so doing there are some questions that must be kept in the forefront of their minds. Would you have sufficient funds to adequately educate your children so that they can have a job and become a productive citizen to society?
Will a fee only be attached to education at the university level or will it filter to the secondary and primary level? Do I have the resources to adequately provide for my child?
For those parents who are thinking of increasing their family size, be proactive in your thinking and plan accordingly. If you want your children to go to university, it is imperative that you start saving as soon as your child is born so you will not be caught in a dilemma, feeling the pressure.
Rhonda Blackman is an educator, a reviewer with the British Research Journal and a member of the American Education Research Association. Email theopenhaversack@gmail.com