St. George’s, Grenada, July 6th 2011 -  Members of Her Majesty’s Opposition is calling on the Government to reconsider the decision to increase fees for students attending the TA Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) in September 2011. 

According to Shadow Cabinet Minister for Education, Mrs. Delma Thomas, A decision has been taken to increase the fees for first year students of the TAMCC by almost 200 dollars in the new school year.  She says this is of great concern to the Opposition since it is likely to further increase the level of school dropouts and will deny many students the opportunity to an education.

Mrs. Thomas noted that in a time when parents are finding it impossible to provide basic food for their children, Government should do everything possible to reduce the cost of education.  She noted that in this time when many parents are losing their jobs or are forced to settle for pay cuts, Government should be more caring.  She added, “Education is a right, not a privilege.

It is a way out of poverty and everything must be done to support the vulnerable families to educate their children.” The Opposition is therefore calling on the Government to reduce the fees and at the same time provide more assistance to students attending TAMCC. 

While the opposition understands the cost involved in running the island’s largest tertiary institution, members are of the view that if Government was to reduce spending in areas such as overseas travel (which amounted to almost 2 million dollars in 2010), more monies can be made available to TAMCC in the form of subvention.

 It must be noted, that upon assuming office in2008; the NDC reduced the size of the subvention the institution was receiving under the NNP administration.  Yet Hon. Tillman Thomas claimed that he is giving every support to our students. This is the second increase in fees since the NDC Administration took office in 2008. 

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