Former Parkinson Principal believes scholarship approach was right move

A retired educator is fully in support of Government’s 2013 decision that required Barbadian citizens pursuing studies at campuses of the University of the West Indies to pay tuition fees from academic year 2014/2015, while Government continued to fund the economic costs.

 

Former Principal of the Parkinson Secondary School, Jeff Broomes, told those attending the Democratic Labour Party’s weekly lunchtime lecture on Friday afternoon, that in his opinion this scholarship approach was a wise and generous decision on the part of the cash-strapped Government, as while it was well intended to provide free education from the nursery through to tertiary level, it became “a simple act of living above our means”.

 

“Then, and most amazingly so – some for inexplicable reasons saw this as worthy of criticism. Of course, it suddenly became a political football and the shouts came that 20 per cent was too much to pay. Who cares about Government’s ability to pay? What difference does it make that there are some professional students who spend seven and eight years on a three-year programme, living off the fatted calf that now appears quite bony with its ribs projecting for all to see,” he said.

 

Speaking on the topic “Contemporary Challenges to Barbadian Education”, in which he listed financing as one of the challenges facing the Barbadian education system, the 41-year veteran in the teaching service, also raised the issue of persons abusing the Student Revolving Loan Fund by now refusing to repay the loans they received. This refusal, which he said has now reached $28 million, is blocking young aspiring students from being able to pursue their dreams.

 

“Of course, some expect the Government to swallow this as well. That is mendicant thinking that should never be adopted by our beloved country. The scholarship approach by Government, as well as enforcing all legal means to have dishonest people repay their debts is a first step in responding to the challenge of financing education in this modern era,” he contended.

 

However, he maintained that more needs to be done and is suggesting that the private sector and in-school fund-raising efforts have a role to play in terms of education financing. Broomes told those gathered that Barbadians are already heavily taxed and the country is still falling short of its financial needs, a clear sign, he indicated that Government cannot be the sole answer. 

 

Moreover, he said teachers too have to play their part – to understand their role and to give what they are paid to give. Broomes, who spent many years as a secondary school principal, contended that punctuality, regularity of attendance, commitment to the job requirements and 

purposeful execution of their duties must be the order of the day. With that in mind, he chided the unions for insisting that teachers who attended recent union meetings should not have their pay docked, contending that “if you don’t go to work you shouldn’t be paid”.

 

“As the singer Joan Armatrading says to those who are unprepared to do these things, “Why did you come here, when you know I got troubles enough?” If you can’t give it your all, find another profession and do not burden us with having to pay you for what you do not give,” he 

maintained. (JRT)