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| UWI Students Protest- April 30th, 2012 |
It is said that a mere twenty percent (20%) of the population have the opportunity to acquire a tertiary education, while there may be some variation, this percentage is relatively low. It is for this reason why expectations are high and the level of decorum from these students should be commensurate with their level of education. I recently read about the actions of some of the students of the University of the West Indies, and after seeing them on television I hung my head in shame. These students disrupted an examination in progress, flung chairs to the ground and destroyed examination material all in an attempt for their voices to be heard. The actions of these students led by the Guild were selfish; absolutely no consideration was given to the students who were adequately prepared for their examinations and paid their tuition in full. They are now forced to have their exams rescheduled. It is time these students realize that the university must sustain itself. How can one expect to have good lecturers, air conditioner in classes, an efficient library among other things without paying their tuition? According to UWI’s registrar the fees owed are in excess of $233 million dollars; this is a significant sum especially in a time when the university subvention from the government has reduced drastically and considering the changes on the financial front in light of recent recession.
It is also interesting to point out that the public only hear from the university students when tuitions are not paid. Why should tax payers continue to fund the university when we get such unacceptable behaviour from our students who are supposedly the men and women that will lead our country forward? The students who disrupted the exams should be arrested and face the courts. Why can’t I hear more about social programmes that these students participate in throughout the year, how are they through the university impacting the country positively?
Let me make it clear that students should pay their tuition in full before they are allowed to sit any exam; the university has implemented several mechanisms for students to create a payment plan. We have to be forward thinkers and one cannot enter an institution of higher learning without any plans of how their tuition will be covered. Every year, the university encourages students to pay fees; periodic reminders are issued and despite certain facilities established to help students many do not make use of this facility. It must be made clear that I do not agree with the University to assign a failing grade for students who have not paid; instead an appropriate notification should be made to show that the student did not sit the exam.
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| UWI Students and Members of the Guild |
It is time the university students elevate their thinking and I urge the members of the guild to find more appropriate ways of getting their point across to the administration. For the coming semester they should start a public education campaign to urge students to set up a payment plan for payment of tuition. It is full time the guild begin to change its modus operandi. Demonstration of this nature only serves to disrupt progress. Our future leaders must display a higher level of thinking and stop allowing people to call UWI an intellectual ghetto.
