Folks, I couldn’t miss the news tonight. In fact, I had to watch both television newscasts so that I could hear both perspectives on the issue of the tuition refund. The Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness held a press conference this evening to announce that the nation will hear when the disbursement of refunds will be forthcoming, at a later date. He claims that refunds will be some time in November…ok cool.
However, we are now hearing that tuition costs amounts to some B$1.8!! This is after we were told it would cost a little over B$1.0. What a drastic difference! There was I thinking (because I am so stupid) that the tuition would have cost exactly B$1.0. Wow. Someone dared to ask where the money was coming from to facilitate this refund, to which the Minister expressed that we shouldn’t be concerned about that. He continued to say that if we are really THAT concerned then we need to direct that question to the Minister of Finance. Well, well, well…….there is even the suggestion that when the refund is made it should be left with the schools for development purposes……well, well, well….there was I thinking that schools ran on chocolate…silly me.
On another note, the Gleaner reported a story this morning about the auxiliary fees “which vary from school to school, usually cover developmental, PTA, insurance and laboratory fees, among others, and range from $2,000 to $12,000″. The Minister states that the Ministry will now begin a debate about these fees, with a view to constructing policy. Good for them.Alphansus Davis, president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, claims “That aspect needs to be regulated because we can’t have a system where people increase these fees to supplement tuition fees,” Mr. Davis said.
If I were a primary or secondary school teacher, which I am not, but if I were, I would succumb to the rules of capitalism. You get what you pay for. Want extra? It’s gonna cost you! I wonder if they think that quality teachers come cheap. If I ran a primary or secondary school there would be a sign at the gate saying “Basic services only. For premium services, call 1 888 PAY MORE and press 2 for more details on how to obtain our services at an additional cost”. The Ministry could never be in their right mind. How will they attract QUALITY teachers?
To top it off, the feedback question on TVJ this evening was “Do you think this administration has been reckless with their spending and promises?” (or words to that effect)…..funny..71% of the respondents said YES!! It’s those Comrades….they are sitting by the phone and pressing 2 FOR YES. They manipulated the straw poll this evening!!
It seems that the euphoria of change is slowly but surely dissipating. It didn’t even take a couple of months. I’m not sure how JA can spend money it doesn’t have, but like anywhere else in the world. If you’re not able to pay and/or have the political will to pay for education, it’s going to cause alot of issues. In any case, having the agenda on the table is a step – as small as it is. I know that many people can’t continue to afford the rising cost of education and something has to be done about it. I just hope that expectations are realistic and that the return on that $1.8 billion allows the country to break through especially with the consumption of services that will generate some tax revenue to help pay back that $1.8 billion. We’ll see what happens. However, I know that the plan is certainly important and takes a lot of energy.
You’ve changed the layout. How do you like it so far? I have the same one and I’ve been pretty good with it. I like the banner too. =)
Let me say that parents were being asked to pay about 3% for their part of the cost share for their child to go to school. If one cannot afford it, then there is the social safety net programme (PATH). No child would have been turned away from school…even if they didn’t pass the means test for the PATH programme. If you read my other posts, you would see that I did not support the abolition of tuition fees whatsoever. People need to have a sense of social responsibilty and become an active stakeholder in something that this of benefit to them.
What I heard coming out of the print and oral media was that people wanted QUALITY education….when it is now free, they do not stand a chance in hell in improving the quality. I wouldn’t even hold my breath to see if teaching will improve or passes will increase, with the removal of the tuition fee. This is a market economy…you get what you pay for.
Why wouldn’t we be concerned where the money is coming from? Of course we would want to know. It’s our right. I wondered about that “passing-the-buck” question to the Minister of Finance. I was under the impression that Minister Holness would have had even an inkling of an idea about the source. Oh well…
Re our teachers, our national leaders need to remember that without quality educators, we wouldn’t have politicians, doctors, engineeers, lawyers, etc.
As for that poll, I’m tempted to agree with you. LOL. There’s something rotten in the state of…
Jgirl, re..the tuition fees.
I hate to say I told you so, because it’s the schools that are being short changed financially and as you say this will filter down to the quality education given.In the end no better result. So why the change?/
For votes???
My children are grown so I had to seek guidance from friends who are in this category.
I am told that cost sharing allowed those who could afford to pay ,to do just that ..these fees along with the govt. portion would’ve been paid up front so that the schools would have enough to begin the school year.The other parents would be allowed to pay only portions of the other fees and as you rightly say no child would be refused entry.
Now under this BETTER system the state ie me and you, will have to pay fees for persons who can afford to finance their children..people who earns more than we do as well.
In so doing the schools suffers, because the parents who would have paid in full and early don’t have to anymore, hence the school’s budget becomes grossly underfunded..The quality education of every child will be seriously compromised..even the ones who are from the wealthier end of the society.
We will soon then,begin to see a few more Hillel’s popping up as the traditional high schools lose there status.
Back to the segregation of the sixties! Mark my word!
Well Bevy D I agree with you. On another post JGirl and I had a few exchanges about the Freeness. I took the position that it should be on a case by case basis and those you could pay should pay. I find that in countries where this waiver is given one cannot accuse them of poor quality education so I am not sure that that is a given but in the case of Jamaica where funds are beyond short we don’t have the luxury like say Barbados to make it a free for all. But it is what it is and I guess its too late to debate that.