Govt to resume payment of UWI fees

The Government of Barbados will once again be footing the bill or the tuition fees of Barbadian students pursuing undergraduate degrees at the University of the West Indies.

Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw made this disclosure as she delivered the ministerial statement earlier today in the House of Assembly.

She said: “With effect from September 2018, as part of Government’s Mission Critical agenda we will resume payment of tuition fees for our citizens who are accepted to study at the University of the West Indies.

“The Government of Barbados will pay directly to the UWI tuition fees for Barbadian students enrolled in undergraduate courses of study.

“Government however will only cover tuition fees for a second undergraduate degree if Barbadian students gain Upper Second Class Honours or if the second Undergraduate degree will be of significant relevance to national development.

“As happened previously, we will pay tuition fees for Barbadian students pursuing a Legal Education Certificate granted by the Council of Legal Education in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

“Government will also pay tuition fees for Barbadians pursuing postgraduate studies if they gain at least Upper Second Class Honours in the first degree or if the post graduate studies will be of significant relevance to national development.

“We will also reach out to Barbadian students who have dropped out and encourage them to resume their tertiary studies.

“The Government will allow an additional year beyond the normal period of the course of study in consideration of unforeseen circumstances that may force full-time students to repeat a year. In other words, the full-time student will have three years, plus one. In the case of part-time students in the same circumstances, it will be four years, plus one.”

The Minister made it clear, however that Barbadian students must give back, saying: “Full-time students will be required to give back by providing 150 hours of approved community service per year, whereas part-time students will be required to give back 100 hours of approved community service per year.

“Any eligible students who may have already paid any portion of their tuition fees will be reimbursed directly by the Ministry of Education.” (NATIONNEWS)