AS THEY CAMPAIGN for the January 21 general election, Barbados’ two main political parties should indicate how they plan to tackle the thorny issue of funding university education.
University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris, made this suggestion during an interview in New York, speaking against the backdrop of Government’s debt of $150 million to the institution, rising student admissions at the Cave Hill campus and Barbados’ long tradition of providing free university education to its citizens.
Asked if discussion on paying for students at Cave Hill should be raised during the campaign, Harris said: “It would be useful for both parties to really consider and maybe even present how they might deal with what I call an obligation to Barbadian students.
“I don’t think that either party would want to cut back on the sort of support they are providing to tertiary education right now. They can’t afford to. At least the country can’t afford to.
