AMIDST rising inflation rates and increased unemployment levels, a number of preparatory and tertiary institutions are hoping to ease the financial burden for parents and students and possibly up their intake this academic year by freezing or decreasing their tuition fees.

Among the institutions that have offered discounts to students is the University College of the Caribbean, where returning students for the 2013-2014 academic year who paid for eight modules in full before the end of August deadline were allowed to pay at the 2012-2013 rate. Those who paid for a full semester’s course load in full before the payment deadline were given a 2.5 per cent discount.

Foundation courses and University of London programmes were, however, exempt from the discounts.

President of the institution Dr Winston Adams believes the reduction in school fees is essential to minimising the impact of inflation on the students and ensuring that they have an opportunity to pursue their education.

Mandeville-based Northern Caribbean University was less discriminatory and froze tuition fees at last year’s rate for all its students, in a move the institution said was an effort to ease the financial sacrifice being made by students.

“Even as we fix our sight towards a brighter future with confidence, we are not oblivious to the plight of many, neither are we immune to the struggles of students and parents to meet registration requirements and payment deadlines,” said chairman of the university board Everett Brown.

For principal of academics at South East College in Junction, St Elizabeth Judian Wright, increasing the school fees this year was definitely not an option, as most of her students were already unable to afford the cost of tertiary education. She said although the school had increased the cost of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects minimally this year, the general school has not had an increase for the past four years.

“Where we are in Junction here, [bauxite mining company] Alpart was our main economic earner and provider for most families and that closed down and so we just had to consider that,” she said.

“We just had to try and conserve on the system as much as possible. For the teachers, we have not increased their salaries since last year, but they have been working with us with the understanding that we are not able to increase based on a number of factors,” Wright continued.

The three institutions have joined the ranks of several international universities and colleges that were forced to freeze their tuition rates this academic year. In Washington, for example, where tuition fees have nearly doubled over the past four years, school administrators were asked to implement a mandatory one-year freeze out of concern that another increase could prevent students from enrolling. Then there is the University of Iowa, where a similar freeze was actioned, the first time in three decades.

Back in Jamaica, privately run prep schools, where the fees can be nearly as expensive as those charged at the tertiary level, have been following suit. Parents have traditionally complained about these high costs and some, in protest, have been pulling their children and enrolling them in the government-operated primary schools where fees are minimal.

It’s a trend which many prep school operators are not taking lightly. President of the Jamaica Independent School Association Doreen Morrison believes lowering the school fee could mean higher enrolment levels for these institutions for it’s a matter of quick sale and small profits.

“I am doing that in my case in my prep school,” said the school administrator who heads Portland High and Preparatory schools.

Another example is Dunrobin Preparatory School where vice-principal Nadisha Johnson said school fees remain at last year’s rates after considering the plight of some of the parents who were already facing economic challenges.

“We are trying to cater to them as best as possible, and you know that right now, there are some persons who have explained to us that their jobs are in limbo, so we are just trying to help the situation as best as possible,” she said.

Johnson said freezing the $45,000 per term fee has meant that the school has had to become more resourceful.

“When we purchase, we don’t waste. Our waste papers that we are not using anymore, like papers that are printed and whatever is left, we can use it as little cut-out slips in the office,” she explained.

“We just have to look at cutting some of the fat, by doing more electricity conservation, water conservation. We are very adamant right now to make sure that everything is running upright and steadfast so to speak, so we have teachers and students who are assigned to go around and ensure that for those classrooms that are not being used, the lights are off,” she added.

But the school administrator was keen to point out that a freeze in the school fee will not affect the quality of teaching at the institution.

“We have ensured that the product is not faulted or has changed so to speak. We are still delivering the best,” she said.