Submitted by Floyd Vincent
I have listened and watched the debate about access to university education with some interest over the past few weeks, especially after the announcements in the budget speech of November 22, 2010. I have a Bachelors and Masters degree for Cave Hill, fully funded by the tax payer and my degrees have provided me with many opportunities in life and I would like others to reap the same benefits.
According to my research, UWI Cave Hill has three main categories of students on entry to the university. Normal matriculation students who can be full time from the start of their degree and therefore can complete their degrees in three years or over six consecutive semesters. Lower level matriculation students who are required to be part-time for the first two years of their degree and therefore can complete their degrees in at least four years or over eight consecutive semesters. Advanced standing students (so called two plus two degrees) who are exempted from the majority of the first year of the degree (on the basis of CAPE, Associate Degrees or other qualifications), and therefore can complete their degree in four or five consecutive semesters.
The key elements of the higher education policy outlined in the budget seem to be that the government wants students to enter the university as preferably Advanced Standing students or if not, Normal Matriculation students, and for all students to complete their degrees in certain time limits. To inform myself on the issues I went up to campus and got my hands on a brochure, “Financial Information for Undergraduate and Graduate students 2008-2009” outlining the fee structure at UWI, Cave Hill. The following table summarizes the fee structure outlined in the brochure:
| Faculty | Annual Fees Paid By Government for A Full Time Student | Annual Fees Paid By Government for A Part-time Student |
| Pure and Applied Sciences | $32,993 | $20,845 |
| Humanities and Education | $32,993 | $20,845 |
| Social Sciences | $32,993 | $20,845 |
| Law | $52, 848 | Not quoted |
| Medical Sciences | 105,169 | Not quoted |
Now according to my calculations for a Normal Matriculation student who completes in six consecutive semesters, the degree costs the tax payer $98,979. For a Lower Level matriculation student who completes the degree in four years or eight consecutive semesters the degree would cost the tax payer$107,676. While for an Advanced Standing student who completes in five semesters the degree costs the tax payer $74,662. The first thing that jumped out at me is that my degree at Cave Hill as a normal matriculation student cost the tax payer a lot of money and I am eternally grateful. The second thing that jumped out at me is that in the absence of a cap on the budget, the university has a financial incentive to maximize the head count at the university. It also made me pause and become more aware of the logic behind the government’s policy. Since every year spent at Cave Hill will typically cost between $20,845 and $32,993, time limits are important. Also, by trying to push Advanced Standing the government appears to be looking at reaping a $25,000 saving per degree, while maintaining access for students.
A perusal of the Handbooks of various Faculties and Departments at UWI Cave Hill provided some information on the requirements for Advanced Standing and exemptions at the university. According to the Handbooks, a number of BCC Associate degrees with a GPA of 2.75 or better allows for Advanced Standing. CAPE passes from Grade 1 to 4 also allow for exemptions from a number of UWI level one courses. I would have qualified for Advanced Standing if the current options had applied in my day.
If my reading of the situation is correct, then at a minimum, the debate in the country should be about the cost to the government of funding increased access to CAPE, Associate degrees and other means towards Advanced Standing or Normal Matriculation versus the anticipated savings on UWI fees. My own limited research suggests that tuition fees are $8,000 for a two year Associate degree at the Barbados Community College, which suggests that savings may be possible, but more detailed research is needed. The transfer and Subsidy to UWI currently stands at around $142ml per year. It is larger than the rest of the education sector combined. Any savings in the delivery of university education should not be sniffed at.
In my opinion, the government should ignore the grand standing and public relations campaigns of the university and the opposition and use its authority to mandate UWI, and the various tertiary institutions to work together to find efficacious means of allowing a majority of students to enter the university as Advanced Standing students or Full Matriculation students, instead of the current situation where over half the students entering the university are Lower Level Matriculation students. The opposition will oppose, and given that some costs of delivering education are fixed and the government pays per student per year, the university has a financial incentive to admit as many students as possible and has no incentive to rush them out of the system. However, a government must govern for the interests of the country as a whole.
We all recognize the crucial role access to higher education plays in Barbados. I am convinced that if the institutions work together, the government policy as stated in the recent budget will work to preserve access to university education for future generations by reducing the cost to the tax payer and hence the financial viability of free university education. By the way, I have focused on the financial issues, but exactly what is wrong with asking students at tax payers expense, to properly qualify themselves for university? What is wrong with our education system that the majority of students at UWI are Lower level matriculation?
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.