CAREER & Education went to the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, this week and asked first and second year students: “What is your feeling on the International Monetary Fund deal and specifically its implications for tuition?” Read what they had to say.

Amanda Nugent, 20, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

“Personally, I have mixed views about the IMF deal on a whole, due to the country’s debts. But a major downside is that the rise in taxes will inevitably lead to increases in tuition fees, which in my opinion is ridiculous. For myself, who cannot afford tuition fees and have to seek loans at lending institutions, when I do finish university and I am required to repay the loan, how will I manage? Well, sure I have a part-time job, but that can only encompass transportation fares and other expenses which also have been taxed. I could try the work and travel programmes, but that is far out of my reach. Sometimes I feel like just quitting university and just becoming one of our working-class citizens. If we cannot afford the tuition, we will have persons with the willingness and capacity to learn, but have no other means, except for loans, to further their education — and that in itself leads to a reduction in educational development in our country.”

Melissa Draggon, 20, Faculty of Social Sciences

“I think it impacts tuition negatively because the subsidy will decrease and if the subsidy decreases, then many persons will not be able to attend tertiary institutions, because of the increase in cost. The situation that exists right now is really bad, as a lot of persons cannot attend. Therefore, if the cost of tuition increases, then it will make matters worse and will lower their prospect of ever entering or ever getting a degree. Many students are disgruntled right now because the Prime Minister was on campus last semester at a town hall meeting and he told us that the IMF agreement would not affect the education budget and now we are faced with this dilemma. It will be hard for students and parents to deal with increased tuition in this time of recession.”

Kemar Richards, 20, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

“The IMF deal is one which can lead to some positive results for the long-term economic plans which the Government is now pursuing. But with regards to the tuition situation, it probably has caused the Government to make some decisions which will have a constraining impact on the budget. But I do not see where it will necessarily lead to any drastic changes in the tuition. It is not the IMF deal which will cause any changes in that. What Minister of Education Andrew Holness has said is that there will be some decisions made in keeping with tests which will have to be run by the IMF, in order to ensure that the money is being spent correctly and everything is intact, and therefore we might find where there is an increase in tuition. But as I said before, I do not think it will be such a drastic change as basically apart from inflation, the Government still has the consideration of the university and tertiary-level education students at heart.”

Shamari Lowther, 20, Faculty of Humanities and Education

“Well, the IMF deal as it relates to tuition, I personally think it is a bad idea, in that, going back to the IMF will push the country backwards, because we have to find money to pay interest rates and a lot of people out there really and truly cannot afford to find the tuition fee as it is now, much less when it is increased. So I really do not see the IMF and it’s deal as a good thing.”

Candace Brown, 20, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

“Honestly, I do not know a lot about the IMF deal but I did hear that they are in favour of reducing the subsidy to about 50 per cent, which would mean we would pay about $400,000 or $500,000. I think that is very impractical for the Government to expect that we can afford that. Even if we cannot, there are not enough institutions for us to get that kind of money from. With the small number of people that are already coming to university, if they are going to increase the tuition, you are going to have an even smaller number coming to university, and that is not good for our future and our labourforce. I understand the fact that Jamaica needs to improve its balance of payment, but I do not think it makes sense to improve one aspect of the country, to the detriment of another.”

Me’le-a Campbell, 19, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

“I understand that the IMF has to present certain requirements that must be met, but at the same time they should recognise us as Jamaicans and really look at our situation. They should see that we really need the help and should really give us that opportunity, especially where subsidised tuition is concerned. We are already being taxed to the highest degree and some cannot afford food and now it is the tuition, so I really feel bad about it.”

Sasha Ann McDonald, 21, Faculty of Social Sciences

“First of all, I believe that going back to the IMF will put us back, because if we are going to borrow from them, they are going to expect something in return and as such, this is linked to our tuition. I believe that the Government should implement other strategies to set the country back on track. Going back to the IMF is a bitter pill as they say, but I am not sure I want to swallow that bitter pill.”