By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine campus is being asked by the government to re-examine the courses it is offering.
This as there was now a decreased financial contribution from government.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert said on Thursday that generally, the state would spend $500 million annually in direct contribution to the university minus the GATE (Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses) funding which was an additional $200 million.
Speaking at a post Cabinet press briefing, Imbert said, “The University of the West Indies St Augustine campus has found it to be difficult to live within the budget we have given to them.”
He said the current enrollment was in excess of 16,000 students in UWI alone not counting all the other tertiary level institutions growing exponentially since the introduction of GATE in 2004.
Imbert said, “We are in different times now. We have to limit the amount of money that we give to the university and also limit the amount of money that we could afford to spend on GATE. The university’s reaction to our limits was to make a proposal to increase tuition fees. That was their solution. We have a different view.”
The UWI currently offers over 300 different courses, the minister said.
“We are of the view that the University of the West Indies needs to look at the courses they want the government and the country to pay for,” Imbert said.
The increase in tuition fees should be a last resort, he added.
Imbert said that a committee was set up to discuss the financial challenges.
It was chaired by Member of Parliament for Port-of-Spain South Keith Scotland who is also an attorney, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Housing Camille Robinson-Regis and Imbert.
The committee appointed on May 9 by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley met with outgoing principal Dr Brian Copeland and incoming Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine whose appointment takes effect from August 1 and discussed the issue of university fees he said.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly also spoke at the press briefing.
She said that the issue of increased fees was first raised by the campus on March 5, 2022, by the Office of the Campus Principal.
Based on current arrangements, the government covers over 80% of tuition costs and students fund 13%.
She said that the campus executives proposed the increase in fees based on three reasons:
- The reduction of government’s subvention by 10% in this academic year;
- Fees have not been increased for 21 years; and
- St Augustine’s fees are the lowest in the region.
UWI’s campuses in other Caribbean countries have increased their fees based on that country’s inflation rate Dr Gadsby-Dolly said.
On April 28, the Ministry of Education met with UWI officials including the Student Guild.
She said the guild raised several issues including lack of consultation, the increase was too sharp and the guild wanted clarification if the increase in tuition would have been covered by an increase in GATE as well as clarification on self-funding options.
On May 13, the appointed committee also held a meeting with UWI executives and the Student Guild.
The main issue discussed was the fee increase for academic year 2022/2023 and ranged from 25% to 71% depending on faculties.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly said, “In looking at all the information presented, the committee recommended that the St Augustine campus do an in-depth cost benefit analysis and a cost efficacy analysis, looking at all the courses they offer, looking at the enrollment and considering how we can possibly reduce where it is possible.”
She added that some information has already been supplied.
“We will be compiling all of that to take a closer look at it as we go forward during this academic year,” the minister said.
