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“How do young people not get disenchanted with education and the stupid systems that are put in place in Trinidad and Tobago when over 50 students are told that they cannot graduate because the Institute that they belong to did not receive GATE funding for them?
“And, to add insult to injury, they are told they have to dig into their own pockets to pay as much as TT$16,000 within a month or else they cannot receive their certificates!”
The following Letter to the Editor was written by an anonymous faculty member at the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI), which informed graduating students on 19 December 2017 that, owing to non-payment of tuition fees by GATE, they will not receive certificates unless they pay between $12,000 and $16,000 to the school by 12 January 2018:
(Copyright TTHTI.edu.tt)
“For evil to succeed, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke
I’ve been trying to calm down for the past seven hours but I can’t hold my tongue anymore and will not go quietly into that still night without getting this off my chest.
How do young people not get disenchanted with education and the stupid systems that are put in place in Trinidad and Tobago when over 50 students are told that they cannot graduate because the Institute that they belong to did not receive GATE funding for them?
And to add insult to injury, they are told they have to dig into their own pockets to pay as much as TT$16,000 within a month or else they cannot receive their certificates! Certificates that these students have literally shed blood, sweat and tears over!
What utter shit are we telling ourselves to ever think that this is okay?
The unfair treatment of students is something that I cannot tolerate in the least because I know personally of some of these kids’ history. When you can use students as pawns in whatever dirty politics is being played out, you and the devil must be some sort of close friends—because it reeks of pure evilness and unjustness.
These kids have done everything that has been asked of them, and now you tell them this news a week before Christmas?
Where the hell are some of their single-parent homes supposed to get the money from?
But we sit as citizens of this backward country and wonder why young people find themselves in criminal activity and unlawful acts. It’s bullshit reasons like this!
And I’m sickened to think that a group of “educated” clowns sat and thought up this plan and really believed in their hearts that it made any sense. I only hope that when the universe claps back at them for all their evil deeds, they don’t have to think too hard about what they did to deserve it.
This is not a simple matter of life being unfair but more of human beings being inhumane and not thinking of the long run with education in this country. Somebody in authority needs to step in here and help these kids because seeing them brought to tears and anger and frustration was the most heartbreaking thing I have experienced in a while.
I can’t anymore, nuh, I can’t! The place where I used to call home has been shat on and completely flushed down the crapper and it hurts like hell.
(Copyright TTHTI.edu.tt)
Editor’s Note: TTHTI CEO Brian Frontin told Loop TT that: “It is not only students that have felt the pain caused by the Government’s refusal to pay through the GATE programme but the TTHTI has also suffered great losses and continues to suffer as Government has also refused to pay the TTHTI’s allocated subvention payments to the severe prejudice of the Institute, its employees and its students.”
Minister of Education Anthony Garcia has described the stand-off as a matter for the TTHTI board and its students since “the Board does not operate under the guidance of the Ministry.”
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Hotel school children who already put in the work can’t get the money as promised, but a tailor from London could have a fashion show at taxpayer’s expense?
What crap is this for Minister Garcia to ‘wash his hands’ over this matter? Isn’t the TTHI a recognized ‘tertiary education’ institution? He may not have direct control of the Board (doesn’t the MOE have a rep on it?) but to absolve the Ministry of all responsibility for intervening in some way… SMH SMH.. Maybe he has been misquoted (again)…
TTHTI, are you all serious. This is an agreement between the government and yourself. Take them to court, do not punish the students who have kept their end of the agreement as per grades. SHAME ON YOU!!!
Government and tthti? Really? I swear gate was an agreement between student and government
Actually it’s an agreement between the student and gate… the institution agreed to accept the student because they showed proof of third party sponsorship… that third part fell through so it’s up to the student to file against gate for breach of agreement…the institution is well within their right to withhold certificates until payment is made
The new procedure is persons attending Universities /tertiary level institutions etc had to apply for GATE .and do a MEANS test. No more GATE funding or persons over 50. The Ministry added that only programmes and institutions accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago will be eligible for funding under the GATE programme, and this policy has not yet been effected hence it cannot be said that ‘some public institutions are not accredited but access GATE funding’. this is the crust of the issue TTHTI should have been knowledgeable on where they stand and informed the students at the beginning of the academic year, not the end. This issue opens a Pandora’s box, since there are also questions as MOE/ Science and Technology has been slack as usual in doing their homework. Is TTHTI isolated in regarding this GATE question, since there are persons operating schools in this country who are not registered with the MOE. From private school to TERTIARY level. This is Trinidad where “everything is everything” only when things reach a hilt questions are asked. I know from my own experience at UWI, the onus was on me to continuously visit administration to get information and DEAL with GATE for verification on issues, because many a student have been shocked into paying monies to get marks, or insufficient grades to graduate, YOU HAVE to seek your own business and interest, No one else will. What are parents role in this predicament since I’m almost certain many paid fees etc (tuition. cauition , insurance etc) for their kids to attend these institutions. Did you all rely on your children for information or did you all check out the GATE website for information. In the final analysis, TTHTI is responsible for disseminating pertinent information regarding GATE to in-coming students. Another embarrassing incident for TTHTI which is well know locallyt, regionally and internationally given the numbers of students who have flown our flags high across the word(chefs , bartenders , etc ) Doing the same thing over and over . Breakdown in all Institutions and no ACCOUNTABILITY What else is new?
Shanice Guerra this is madness
Just for using that word “Unjustness” They should withhold their certificates. The word is “Injustice “
Your argument suggests that many parliamentarians should not be paid .!!!!!!!!.
I guess that is a “paradiggum” discussed at many “breakfastses” all across the nation
…and ‘evil’.
Give back your certificate!
Being in violation of principles of justice or fairness; unfair: an unjust law. 2. Acting in violation of such principles; unfair in one’s dealings and actions: an unjust ruler. 3. Archaic Faithless; dishonest
You’re a waste of broadband access, sir.
Ppl just Googling words and writing definitions. Lol not even looking at the type of dictionary it coming from. Lol
My apologies it’s one of those words that did not exist years ago but found it’s way into the dictionary like buffness.
Luyu Chen what’s your point? Or is there one?
Luyu is correct there are many types of dictionary around. You might not find that word in a Collins and an Oxford.
Zanim Ali language is not static it’s constantly evolving to include new words. Get over it, unfair is unfair and by making that statement you are detracting and distracting from the issue.
The word “unjustness” does in fact exist and is an entry in the current editions of Oxford & Merriam-Webster dictionaries.
If certain words are used often enough they will eventually find themselves into a dictionary.
It was good of you to admit you were wrong but you distracted from real issue.
Bla bla bla.. stick to the point.. this is not vocabulary and spelling group
Let the two persons responsible for the roaming charges and three days stay in Tobago pay TTHTI
The photo is of St Francois girls though.
Are we really gonna blame the institution for not awarding certificates that weren’t paid for… It’s GATE’s issue and they are responsible… they promised to pay the institution… they failed … certificates must be withheld and the ministry held responsible…
It’s both the institution and the government.
Isn’t that a government institution?
Leslie-Ann Bristow doesn’t matter if it’s partly state owned the board of directors have to manage the finances and protect the business model… it’s no different if a students gate funding runs out… accounts must be settled before certificates are given….however they could have allowed them to participate in the graduation function but withhold the certificate
I disagree. This cannot be done AFTER the fact. If the institution wished, it could have prevented the entry of students until they received the ok from GATE. Instead, they enrolled the students and thus those persons had a legitimate expectation that once they fulfilled their end of the deal, they would graduate. This should not be changed after all of the time spent studying and preparing.
Furthermore, it DOES matter that it is a Government institution because it means that the government reneged on its own promise to itself and not a third private party. Another reason why the students should not be penalized
Roger Collin Pierre like TSTT, T&TEC and WASA although state owned their day to day runnings is not to be directed by the state… Secondly it’s just not prudent to release the certificates to the student…
Prudent for whom? We seem to be forgetting who the real focus about this should be about – the students.
So, based upon your reasoning, the students who were accepted without being informed that the receipt of their certificates would be dependent upon GATE not being changed mid-stream, should just leave well enough alone because the two stakeholders in the deal (Gov’t and institution) moved the goalposts while the game was still in play.
Roger Collin Pierre you cannot be serious. The institution is a business..what institution will administer certificates to anyone who has not finished their financial obligations? The state pays student fees through gate…if gate stops the students HAVE to meet that burden…their grouse for unfair treatment is with the Ministry of Education.
And your comment about preventing them from enrolling means you have not understood this specific situation.
You cannot be serious. Your problem is that you are confusing who the financial obligations fall under. The part paid by the students are theirs while the part paid by the state was part of the contract between them and the institution. Since the institution is a business, they should be suing the state for loss of earnings. However, that is too difficult, so they picked the low fruit and charged the students.
This is like TTEC coming and telling you that the rate of electricity has changed and the energy you used for the past 12 months will now be billed backwards to reflect the new cost, therefore you need to pay for that or they will cut your supply. The electricity is also subsidized by the Government in conjuction with TTEC, so according to your logic, they could be able to make you pay for what is already used.
Roger Collin Pierre you clearly don’t understand the base principle of a scholarship…the cost incurred is still for a service the student obtained and is essentially responsible for regardless of if his parents, a private citizen or the state promised to sponsor him/her… hotel school did the only possible thing… it’s up to the students to get organized and hold GATE responsible …
Keone Guy, I disagree because GATE is not, and never was, a scholarship. It was a mechanism whereby the state agreed to subsidize the cost of education for citizens, not unlike what is done from cooking gas to CAL Tobago flights. It is an arrangement between the Government of T&T and institutions of education and, just like in the other areas of subsidy, a change cannot be made and the consumers made to pay retroactively.
Further, that arrangement is not between the consumer and the company but between the Government and the company, whether it be COSTAATT, NP, TTHTI or CAL.
Roger Collin Pierre remember students must apply for funding as an individual… there isn’t a block grant where free education is offered… because it’s an application process to gain specific funding it is indeed like a scholarship program…the only agreement between the state and the institute is that the state agrees to pay the fees of the individual once they continue to maintain certain standards .. Gpa et al… While the institute can take gate to task for funding which it has attempted to do, it cannot award a certificate that was not pain for… that just cannot happen… it’s not how commerce works or is supposed to work
You are agreeing with me in your contribution. The key component is that “the only agreement between the state and the institute is that the state agrees to pay the fees of the individual once they continue to maintain certain standards.” That, sir lies at the root of the contract. Once the students satisfy their obligation to the contract as verified by the institution (who by the way is the enforcer of that aspect of the contract), then they are expected to derive the benefit of having their education subsidized by the state through the same institute.
Please remember that the student does not receive any funds directly through the subsidy, the institute receives the revenue because the contract is between the institute and the state. Therefore, it is the institute that has to sue the state for breach of contract as it is only the state which did not perform their obligations under the said agreement.
The student, having satisfied all their obligations thus need to receive their certificates as the benefit owed to them under their contract with the school.
I heard rumblings about this so I believe the story is accurate. Totally absurd! Patricia Worrell, that’s why I have no faith in the current education system. It’s a far cry from when people like you were involved.
Yet 3 million $$ to refurbish and landscape a golf course?. .
My only issue here is the late notice. Are institutions not aware at the beginning of the school year, of what programmes will or will not be funded by GATE?
That’s at least one of the major issues here for sure.
Since 2016 the announcement regarded GATE was made to the entire nation. Excuses, Excuses. TTHTI has to take full blame for this fiasco.
Rossana Glasgow, GATE was never closed. So you’re mistaken. No announcement was ever made stating that the Gov’t would no longer honour GATE. That’s misinformation.
This is exactly what I have been asking Kai
I have no idea where Rossana Glasgow gets her information. Gate is still being offered.
I repeat Since 2016 the announcement regarded GATE was made to the entire nation. where did I say it was Shut?
learie i wouldnt say ransom….i read in the papers faculty was unpaid for months….i sure no one on this thread working unpaid for months and have children to feed and send to school?
The story lacks balance, the editors note ddeserves to form part of the story and each individual students financial situation needs to be assessed on its own merit.
First time you’ve seen a letter to the editor? Aren’t you familiar with the format?
TTHTI holds the power ( temporarily) to holds these students future to ransom (literally). In this instance the “power” that institute holds only reveals who or what they really are.
The government has to get its act together. GATE was pegged to the price of oil so this was inevitable. They have no money yet they continue to give the same number of scholarships this year as they did last year so….we can expect more of this to come. I am totally amazed at the incompetence of our ministry of education
Been saying this a long time now!
The students have kept up their end of the contract. Their obligation was not payment, it was to attend classes, study and pass the exams. They did. The financial agreement was between the school and the government. it is not the same kind.of agreement between a parent and the school. It can not be treated the same way.
And the institution held their end of the bargain… withholding certificates is their only leverage in this… can’t blame them … students need to rally against the government not the institution
Ummmm the agreement is with the gate and the individual student not the school
There are two separate contracts here actually. Between the school and gate and the student and gate. I do understand the school though. Hold the students to ransom.
Sad and disappointing.
And the political sycophants are rolling out of the wood works. Let the comments continue
so what about the Restaurant and Hoteliers assoc ??? why dont they help with the fees?
Mafia behaviour.
I disagree its PNM who provided the education for AL.,However, its SILENCE on pertinent matters from citizens blinded by race, and politics have contributed to where the country is at.Remember its the citizens who elected ALL of them. Its citizens both literate and illiterate passivity which has contributed to the corruption, CRIME, mismanagement,, lack of governance etc . People with ethics, and moral integrity don’t put themselves up for office, because to be a POLITICIAN, you have to be ‘special”
You consider what my generation received as “free education’ was really free and really education? One measure of “education” is the end product; not how much we bost about spending but what we get for money. The sorry ass condition in which this country finds itself today is a result of the “highly educated” who received “free pnm education.” From the CJ to the PM, the governor general (President,) the Ag CoP and all cabinet members and those on the opposing side who oppose merely for the sake of opposing. Show me one drop of education in the combined positions mentioned and see why we are where we are as a nation.
In a different era, for women, it was “keep them pregnant and barefoot.” Today pnm’s philosophy remain “keep them illiterate and dependent.”
while the political wrangling goes on, I need clarity on a few things. How long were the students at TTHTI. Didn’t TTHTI explain the changes regarding GATE, and If I’m not mistaken if they were in their final or 2nd year of studies were they not entitled to GATE coverage. to complete their studies. 2017 is when the changes came into effect? Since they have studied and fulfilled their courses, they should graduate.Why should be held accountable for the errors on the part of both institutions (if Garcia said its not EDUCATION, pray tell, who do they fall under?) Really? Are you telling us the public that TTHTI don”t even know which institution they are accountable to and where they funding were coming from. This has to be a joke. Comedy hour in T&T. Speak TRUTH to the students and us the citizens. Over the years millions have been invested into TTHTI which has produced world class chefs, bartenders etc and now this nonsense. Oh when will all this crap end in this, my banana Republic?
Maybe when we elect people who aren’t afraid to stand up to the 1%?
As far as I recall, under the last admin, there was the MoE and Min of Tertiary Education. Now, as far as I know, they were merged, so maybe that can explain the confusion.
Two years the gov.t in office and there is uncertainity? Blame game, Let the young people graduate and let TTHTI get their administrative problems rectified. This happens when governments put friends and family in positions and they are incompetent and unqualified. when problems hit pass the buck, no ACCOUNTABILITY. That’s Trini style of governance, sutained on Nepotism and cronyism.
I saw the interview of the affected students and I was wondering why isn’t a big stink being made for this? This is so wrong…. they asked for gate in the first place because they are not in a financial position to pay so htf can you ask them now to pay what THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO PAY….. It’s not their fault it’s THE GOVERNMENT! !! Why isn’t anybody making noise or anyone fron the government coming out and saying something? Stuart Little? AlRoarRi? What happen???? Ivor Archive how come this didn’t strike a note? Nah man Government allyuh have to do something
We all need to read the article about the unspent funds and why it was not how on one hand no money but there is point three billion to compl a building this government making a concerted effort to bring it where only the few can afford education.
Anesto Cazoe you need to read my comment…… I am stating to hold the students to ransom for failure on the government part to fulfil it’s obligation is WRONG!!!! .. to ask the students who asked for gate to assist them because they could not afford to pursue the course tell them okay approve it then last minute say to them government not paying so allyuh have to find the money otherwise the certificate for all your hard work and hours put in and fulfilling your end of the bargain will not be given to you is WRONG!!!!! I never commented on GATE nor the feasibility of GATE…… smh…..
You are quite correct Gemini Harris. The school is using us the students as hostage for the government to pay them. Besides this issue, students are constantly being treated with hostility instead of hospitality. We have to pay tuition plus the subsidy on our lab fees were removed. So instead of paying the usual $2300 per semester it’s now $10500.00 And there’s limited amount of stock and we the students are bringing our goods from home. What are they really doing with the lab fees?
Dennise Demming, what are your thoughts?
332,000,000 to finish a campus and workers are being sent home “We eh hah no money ”
Failure
Buju said it well: “if education is the key why the bigger heads make it so difficult fi we.” They prefer to spend money to hold our yoots in jail cells than to see them strive. Great is the PNM!
Frederick Douglas once said….education makes a man unfit to be a slave.
An educated population is difficult to control. An uneducated population….
I myself had a hat thought, because it costs around $20,000 a month to house a prisoner, if I recall correctly. You think we right in we head?
Hmmm maybe we should let prisoners and the family maintain themselves, that way you become less my burden and more their families.
Marcus Alexander Clarke and what happens to the prisoners’ whose family say screw them? HA. Who pays then?
Rudy Paul the term hard labor becomes real
Again this is same thing of not having all the facts. Firstly the Minister of Education spoke on the matter on i95.5 about three to four weeks ago. Firstly he stated that the institution doesn’t fall under his ministry. Secondly the minister of finance said he was looking for money for the institution.
Who doesn’t have all the facts? The TTHTI board? Because they said otherwise. So obviously it isn’t as simple as you say.
Why did the TTHTI Board believe they were getting GATE money from the Govt then? They had a bad dream?
I have a question do other countries have a system of GATE ?
Marcus Alexander Clarke, I have a question too. What does that have to do with the promise of GATE that was made to students?
If I promise to give you $100 and don’t give you, can I ask you: are any other countries giving you $100?
We all knew that GATE wasn’t sustainable once money became scarce. An even with GATE you still had to pay fees. However ask about other local university that takes you almost 8 years to graduate?
Lol. Well I don’t know about that one. I’m sure there are loads of stories in the tertiary education business. I’m just trying to wrap my head around this one for the moment.
I get that there are economic problems too. For sure. But we still have to be fair right? If we can’t keep a promise we should be creative to try to make up for it to the students. Not throw them under the bus.
Lots of places have similar systems: http://www.independent.co.uk/student/study-abroad/free-university-education-courses-study-abroad-brexit-erasmus-students-germany-copenhagen-france-a7457576.html
TTHTI is private …when the govt was late its head demming threatened so sue the govt so im sure garcia decided to take a hard stance
Lots of private schools got GATE in the past. The issue for me is whether this particular intake of students knew upon enrollment that they were not going to be afforded GATE
“Fair is foul and Foul is fair”! This is where students’ transcript is necessary .It certifies that you attended classes .You completed the necessary courses .It shows your status as a bonafided student of the institution.Employers and Tertiary institutions ask for Transcript . In this particular case the student’s skill set .is a determining factor for employment.
Bonnie Khan by the way you T&T has been banned from the work to study program, because we can’t be honest enough to follow the rules
what work to study program?
who supporting a party? i aint see PNM nor UNC mentioned here
Wait wait I missed something? I am lost we reach party politics why? Kyon Esdelle when did this happen?
Lasana Liburd I commend your patience when dealing with the “party come first” kind of logic. Just defend even if it doesn’t make sense because I like my political party.
Marcus Alexander Clarke the Minister of Education should check his website. http://moe.gov.tt/Education/Tertiary
Wendy-Joy Billouin well spotted. Care to comment on that Marcus Alexander Clarke? Is Minister Garcia making this up as he goes along?
Marcus Alexander Clarke ask Kelisha David
Lasana Liburd it was in the first interview he did when the issue came up. As stated on i95.5
Marcus Alexander Clarke I hope you can see by now that interview was not as illuminating as you might have thought it was.
Kyon Esdelle is UWI private? If so why are they not facing similar issues with government funding? How was a campus for a private University built in DEBE with State funds? Who funds all those UWI campuses? How do T&T UWI students pay tuition?
Isn’t UWI partially funded by the various Caribbean governments?
UWI is a regional independent body est by royal charter
lester perhaps you missed the news but uwi has cut back on expenditure and staff
I have recently. I wanted to hear more about the cutbacks on their T&T taxpayers subvention if there were any. How does this Royal Charter affect the Republic of T&T as opposed to Jamaica and Barbados who have Governor Generals? Are we still bound to follow arrangements pre – independence or do we forge our own path under Republicanism? Why cutbacks in subventions to OUR institutions such as UTT, TTHTI as opposed to UWI which seems not to be ours based on info stated on this thread?
Mel Lissa students graduating in the 2017 cohort started school in 2015 and so we knew nothing about a possibility of having to pay tuition fees
So wait… Last year or so when the Govt declared that no GATE for the elderly, everyone said screw the elderly and let’s look after the youths.
Now youths bawling after they get left in the cold and people saying they should use the money they were going to play Mas with…
So who do Trinis really care about?
People only care about themselves and to hell with everyone else. When I voiced my disappointment at the removal of gate for students over 50 years I get pelt in every corner.
They only care about supporting a political party that doesn’t give two fruits about them. I remember about 3 years ago a 1% was interviewed during news time and he said that he will like the government to adjust GATE because the workforce is highly educated and no one wants to work in his store. From that very same night I saw that interview I knew GATE was in trouble after the next election and our current economic woes would be the perfect excuse to sabotage tertiary education. My people have ears but we DONOT listen, we have eyes but we DONOT SEE!
But hasn’t this been public knowledge that this was coming since September 2016…? I remember because I was considering putting off a Masters degree at UTT because I got pregnant, but changed my mind when the changes to GATE were announced…
This is why I asked if they knew before enrollment
If they graduated in 2017, then they would have already been students then.
If they knew and just ignored the issue, it’s just poor planning on their part…
But if they have known for over a year, then surely they should have managed their finances to suit! They can’t imagine that the GATE rollbacks will be reversed in this economy ….
IN 2016, the Education Ministry announced that they wouldn’t pay ANY GATE? I think you’re very mistaken Natalia. Changes were announced but not an absolute freeze.
There was never an absolute freeze on GATE
Natalia, why is everyone looking to blame the students here? The people who knew about the machinations at higher level would surely be the Education Ministry and TTHTI.
According to the lecturer, the students were the last to know and got less than a month’s notice. So why blame them?
the sch for months have been complaining so its not necessarily one mth notice….maybe officially
Mel, she essentially said “blame anybody but the govt” and drop the mic and gone oui. Lol.
‘sigh’
Lasana Liburd who’s she?
Kyon, I’m referring to Natalia.
Can’t he tell from the conversation?
Sorry – went to church! Lol didn’t mean to dramatically drop a mike!
I didn’t mention the government at all – what I did say is that there were changes to GATE announced before the 2016-17 school year commenced. Each student applies individually for GATE funding – were these students promised funds which were not delivered to the school? Or were they denied funding…? I’m truly confused
the changes said that the means test would be enforced
that said it seems the govt is months or years behind on gate payments so the issue didnt start with this new administration …it has been happening for year s
Yet you ask me how did the government mismanage it?
well tell ppl pay their taxes so the govt will have money to spend lol…or tell the dpp to find stashes from past corruption
Tell the government to implement an effective tax collection scheme. It’s not my job to tell people to pay their taxes!
Mel Lissa, you know I have been calling on the short man to be like his boss, don’t let the country’s tax monies sleep out! I still don’t understand why collection of L&B taxes could not have been collected under the old system until the current one is sorted out. Or why the ppl don’t take a walk to Legal Affairs to see what businesses are registered and how many are in existence and paying taxes, check with the banks for all corporate/business accounts, check fb for local online businesses. It can’t be that hard to start this exercise!
Nerisha I could write a book on BIR
Colm playing smart with chupidness
imagine my surprise walking in to bir and seeing the sign no L&B taxes will be collected “this year” in 2016
but i realise our memories convenient when we forget the barriers in parliament….after all its a democracy
Nerisha Mohammed Taxis, doubles vendors, contractors, professionals, etc must be brought into the loop properly otherwise it is only the salaried people that get caught each year.
Judy-ann Stewart I recall having that very conversation with the ‘now’ MOF when his a$$ was in opposition. He had all the solutions back then
Mel Lissa, I’m hoping that because they need the money and also because they are introducing the Revenue Authority, there will be some improvement in widening the tax net. I get the impression they have been doing some work but it is not enough. You think I should offer to help?! ?
Yes Judy-ann
They definitely need it!
Kyon Esdelle is so insensitive most times eh
I’m lost with his comments
im not insensitive but ive sacrificed alot to get my education
Kyon Esdelle not only you Kyon!!!!! My sister works for quarter your salary and have mortgage to pay, she working hard just to live and now faced in this situation. What about the other people who coming from Deep South and working for meager salaries. So your comments are horrible Cus you placing all the students in one category!!!!!!!!!
well considering i dont know the students nor wish too i must generalise
because i have to pay sch fees i dont have a cell phone…i dont have wifi at home…i have outstanding bills so give me a break …i cant buy a house yet ….i cant finish pay off for my car…I never play mas and i never take a vacation for the past ten years…you dont see me in las Vegas
i cant even afford to go Tobago for a weekend but u talking about ypur sister…pay her fees for her then
“well considering i dont know the students nor wish too…” Kyon with that kinda love for your fellow man, I think you were born for a high position in the public sector! Lol
i have plenty love for everybody ….there are hundreds of students ….im sure they not willing to tell me their personal business nor i want them too which is what i meant
Lol. Ok.
furthermore my house almost burned down in 2014 ….yet i sacrifice to go back to school…im always online while im doing assignments …i get like 5 hrs of sleep if im lucky
everybody quiet now ok
Kyon we were kinda focusing on the current TTHTI students. But I’m glad your house is safe and hope you get plenty rest in 2018.
Lasana Liburd my pt is ppl only care about themselves and their family …when i talk about my struggles she quiet …
and ill repeat it…many ppl took gate and saved their money for luxuries they didnt need
Likewise there might be many who would struggle to afford that degree without GATE.
‘ many ppl took gate and saved their money for luxuries’.. that is where you are wrong Kyon. The government from the beginning mismanaged GATE!
Nobody asked me IF I could have afforded my studies when I enrolled back then. Nobody asked me if I intended to play mas and go on a vacation while I was on GATE – it was simply ‘given’ no questions asked!
how the govt mismanaged Gate besides that one univ owner who had ghost students and milked millions??
Folks did not beg for Gate and then ‘saved their monies for luxuries’, Gate was offered. So how come how people lived thereafter is an issue. I would talk about my situation which would be unique to other but that’s it.
They mismanaged it based on exactly what you said there Kyon. As Timothy said – no one begged for gate and played mas with their money. Gate was ‘given’ across the board. No one was required to qualify based on earnings and assets- that is mismanagement
I could have afforded my tuition. In fact, I did not know that I was getting Gate and was prepared to pay. It wasn’t necessary because I was a citizen of T&T. That was all that was required at that time
no one played mas? lol…that was a general statement i made and that was an inaccurate reply u made
and yes means testing was poor and yes u benefited from the mismanagement
‘no one begged for gate and played mas with their money’ You have a problem with understanding?
mel i know plenty ppl played mas while in univ and after univ..i aint asking yuh
as Nico said the money saved merely went to other parts of the economy like landlords etc
i not asking if u played mas during or after u got Gate
this is NOT about about your or other ppl on this thread personal actions
im talking generally
You really do have a problem with understanding. Where did anyone say they didn’t? We said no one begged for gate and saved their money to play mas and other luxuries. They government gave gate across the board whether one could have afforded a costume or a vacation didn’t matter.
“Mel Lissa Group Admin ‘ many ppl took gate and saved their money for luxuries’.. that is where you are wrong”
i never said ppl begged for Gate
i said ppl TOOK GATE
It’s that simple. And it basically everyone’s own business what they did with or without Gate.
what phrase rochford want to use is his business…i said people TOOK gate and then spent their monies elsewhere….they benefitted from the govt largesse…so to come now and blame the govt for not having money presently is VERY RICH
well then it everyone business now who have to pay for their tuition
People were GIVEN gate!
right…well those who cant get GATE now why are we even bothering and crying shame on the govt?
Whether or not they could have afforded their own tuition – they were GIVEN!
and i sure if the govt applied means test allyuh is the same ppl running and bawling how the govt bad so not to give paul or paula or paulene GATE
I don’t follow what you mean by ‘took’. No one gave you the option to pay if you were able
well now it have none to give
Mel Lissa i know this …well the water run dry
When I did my BSc. I did a means test – not to get gate but to get on the programme. I didn’t run and bawl anybody bad then so why will I do that now?
Guess they should have saved their monies just in case the Govt decided to take back the Gate that they granted to citizens.
well it seems so because even if the govt was able to pay now…the country still have billions of debt to repay
i was under the impression that when you make a promise, the onus is on you to fulfill it. Not mock the other for expecting to get what you promised.
Thank God some ppl are not a twin. Wow!
Mel Lissa, I know ppl with dual citizenship who benefitted as well. I agree the programme was not managed properly, but I guess in fairness, if it was given based on need, then we might have another ‘skullarship’ scenario. I guess you can’t please everybody but definitely, this catch all approach to tertiary education may not have been wise. So many young graduates have jobs they don’t need degrees for, and many more have degrees and they can’t get jobs. For the most part, I can’t see how the country has benefitted from this investment. It would have been interesting if there were some data to support the investment or not.
The irony here is we are stifling tourism in a time we claim we want to diversify the economy and bring in much needed foreign exchange.
Nerisha Mohammed u cant see how we benefited from GATE?
Lasana Liburd as i said it seems the minister withdrew when the threat was made…i dont see how ppl cant understand the counttry financial position…
i had an issue with my car and mths passed till i told a manager maybe i should protest or even go to court
the manager gave me great piece of advice
when u take things public or legal u lose all goodwill
Timothy Rochford well if was meant to be an insult to a candid discussion i can clearly agree with u
Happy New Year folks.
Knew you would agree pal but everything is not about Kyon Esdelle.
i sure the students wouldnt help the institution pay the lawyer fees
You think they should? That’s how a business usually operates? If your company sues someone, the employees pass around a hat?
Do the students get profit sharing if TTHTI has a good year?
well the institution could close and the final yr students could start a new degree over elsewhere
i quite sure lecturers have mortgage to pay
Please name one alternate culinary institute that students can simply start over at.
So if TTHTI had to close it would be the fault of the students? I think you are putting quite a lot on the shoulders of those students Kyon.
Why should the students help pay Lawyer’s fees? Kyon I’m really not following you
im not saying its the fault of the students… i think the students and u have to realise the school by now is between a rock and a hard place
Mel Lissa cooperation …the sch need money
Les Lab thats my pt…they better understand its in their interest for the sch to get paid
Kyon I understand the school is in a hard place. Lemme ask you this: How long did school know that these GATE payments were a problem? Can they justify this deadline?
I’d like to think they are trying to find a compromise that fits students too.
months…if u check the media they have been complaining and threatening the govt for mths
u see when students graduate many dont pay the schools …and this happens worldwide …uwi want their money upfront i would have loved to pay uwi mthly installments
the institution threaten to sue the MoE
They should!
das y the minister drop them
How can self (institution) sue self (MOE)? According to the MOE’s website, TTHTI is an agency of the MOE, just like UTT, COSTAATT, YTEPP, MIC, NESC, etc.
i think its private
Look at who is on the board and ask why the MOE is not intervening. UWI makes all students sign a form saying if GATE funding isn’t paid it becomes the responsibility of the student. I would suspect TTHTI has a similar ‘cover’ in place.
Ahhh. It is becoming a little clearer now then. Still a sad situation, particular with that deadline. I’d like to assume that they can get their certificates whenever the money is paid of course. But that’s rough.
Government has also stopped all subventions to the institute. So it is a double whamny for students. No GATE plus what wld seem like an increase in fees.
im not saying remove Gate…i think Gate should be for all levels….if we have money and clearly the govt is broke
this is the institution trying to save itself …it hasnt been properly paid by the govt
I’m not following you yuh know
the govt being broke has not been able to pay GATE
the institution has faculty and other bills to pay
Kyon Esdelle does UWI has similar problems as TTHTI with government funding?
I seriously doubt that Lester Logie
It is very unusual to me, that UTT, TTHTI etc have issues with government funding and not UWI. Something just ain’t adding up.
ppl plz read the news
We do read the news Kyon. Which news reported that UWI was having problems with gate funding?
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Principal-waiting-on-100m-GATE-funds-for-backpay–289532451.html
http://www4.guardian.co.tt/news/2017-11-02/we-can%E2%80%99t-survive-past-january
Laura Dowrich-Phillips, I used a hyperlink from Loop TT in this post as I see your site interviewed the TTHTI CEO and Anthony Garcia. Any updates since?
I don’t know. Will check
Madness
“It is not only students that have felt the pain caused by the Government’s ‘refusal to pay through the GATE programme’ but the TTHTI has also suffered great losses and continues to suffer as ‘Government has also refused to pay the TTHTI’s allocated subvention payments’ to the severe prejudice of the Institute, its employees and its students.”
Hmmmmmm
Plenty to unpack from there. I hope the mainstream media is on that as we won’t have the resources to go there.
Lasana Liburd The TTHTI under the present Board has refused new students and now are not releasing those who have completed by withholding certificates. Seems to be heading for a shut down? There continues to be a lot of ill will operating in the relationship between the present Board & outgoing CEO and now the present board, Govt and students. Observe what is present/ constant and what is absent… concern for students.
What I’m asking here is if the students knew that they had to pay these fees BEFORE they enrolled in their respective courses?
I suspect not.
They did not Cus these fees are covered by gate.
The govt didn’t pay the school so the school forcing the students to fork out the money
Ohhhhh now I see
Yes. Yes. We have to put out. I had to, to do my first degree.
But you knew that before you enrolled, not so?
Brenda, apart from whatever fees the students may or not have paid during their education. Remember everything from transport, to books, uniforms, equipment, etc isn’t free either.
It’s not as as if the students haven’t put out themselves too to get their education.
And remember an educated workforce is a benefit for the country too. Not just the students.
Did these students know up front that ‘education not free’?
We got spoilt. Education is not free. It can be free in a time of plenty but sometimes we have to sacrifice for a good education. Nothing is wrong with that.
some students might have to put off a mas costume or a trip abroad …or sell a car or eat bread and sugar
So you’re just assuming that all those kids have the money or a car to sell?
Or a mas costume
Wow…
their parents or family etc
i see plenty ppl from my time play mas and travel all over while on Gate
Yeah. I played mas and got GATE but there was no stipulation back then that GATE would not be given if one went on vacation or played mas. I’m sure we had this conversation before
well education not free and from what i hear the faculty need to get paid
You get that students were only given a month’s notice though? And that there was a commitment to pay their tuition in place already by GATE?
well GATE drop the buck …this beyond GATE now ,…the schools want their money…they have debts too
What do you mean by ‘education not free’?
Education is not free…schools have to pay utilities buy supplies pay faculty …do renovations extensions etc
This isn’t only TTHI…COSTAATT students are similarly affected.
Did COSTAATT take the same approach?
Similar. The money needs to be paid to GATE…not to COSTAATT. I’m aware that the student in question has a letter of completion from the college, but can’t receive her certification unless the money GATE claims is outstanding is remitted to the GATE office.
I thought GATE paid on behalf of the students. So I’m properly confused now.
GATE pays on behalf of the student….provided that the student
A…maintains a particular GPA
B…Submit electronically the student transcript to GATE.
From personal experience, there are instances where even when this is done, the GATE office can and has claimed to have never received documentation from the student, and halts payment. I’ve had to go in several days over the course of a fortnight in order to rectify what was a GATE issue even though I had complied with the requirements. And this was 2014
I also went through what Dwyane went through. Further to that GATE only has mainly OJT staff. However my issue was with the institution. I had to sit with the person and go through papers of GATE forms to find mine. An that’s since 2007
Yup. That sounds VERY familiar.
My sister had to pay $9,000
Will she pay? What do you make of this situation?
Lasana Liburd it’s crazy and they are holding the graduates to ransom. If she don’t pay she can’t get her certificate. She can’t apply for teaching etc
My sister is in this position. She said one of her classmates have to fork out $30,000
Level nonsense. The Ministry needs to get their act together.