I was absolutely flummoxed to read that the head of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Department of Economics, Dr Daren Conrad, has suggested that full funding for tertiary education should be ended.
I wonder if Dr Conrad, at any time during his journey to his terminal degree — undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies — was ever the recipient of some kind of financial aid.
If he was, one can be certain that it helped him immensely.
He may not be aware of the history of financial funding for tertiary-level education in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1973, the Student Revolving Loan Fund was passed in Parliament. This was an agreement between the government and the Inter-American Development Bank. It established a fund to provide tertiary-level loans to qualified students. It allowed parents/students to borrow money to fund their university expenses.
In 1994, the University Students (Guarantee Fund) Act was passed. It created a guarantee fund for the purpose of facilitating loans to university students. People could now borrow from any of the commercial banks.
Loans must be repaid and borrowers must first qualify. Thus, many students could not afford to attend university. Some who did qualify had problems repaying, due to under-employment and other factors.
In 2001, the United National Congress (UNC) government under prime minister Basdeo Panday started the “Dollar for Dollar” education programme fund with an initial balance of $240.6 million. It was created under Section 43(1) of the Exchequer and Audit Act.
The government covered 50% of tuition fees and students had to come up with the other 50%.
In 2004, the People’s National Movement (PNM) government, under prime minister Patrick Manning, launched the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme.
It came with a means test, but this was abandoned by 2006.
GATE provided financial aid up to 100% for undergraduate tuition, and up to 50% for post-graduate tuition. It was open to all citizens at both public and private tertiary-level institutions.
It really made university access, financially, much easier for many, especially those with limited means.
In 2016, the PNM government, under prime minister Dr Keith Rowley, citing financial challenges, significantly cut GATE access for students. Private institutions were no longer recipients of GATE in any capacity. Also, people over the age of 50 years no longer qualified. A means test was also reintroduced. The 50% support for post-graduate tuition was totally removed.
The government then introduced a Higher Education Loan Programme. This sent parents and students back into the arms of borrowers.
Now, Dr Conrad wants GATE to be totally eliminated. That is elitist thinking of the worst kind. It will disenfranchise many who will no longer be able to afford university education.
His rationale is that there are now many under-employed university graduates. The unemployment rate, like the literacy rate, is not a true reflection of the reality. It is massively under-reported.
He mentioned a mismatch between skills and needs. When GATE was first introduced, the government was advised to link it to national development. That never happened.
Whose job is it to create employment? Government policies are supposed to set the environment for job growth in both the public and private sectors.
Maybe, Dr Conrad should look in that direction for answers, instead of removing a key pillar for national development.
Linus F Didier
Mt Hope
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