ST ANDREW, Jamaica — Students and staff of the Papine-based University of Technology (UTech) this morning took to the streets, voicing their concerns about what they say is the small government subvention to the university when compared to other institutions across the island.

The lecturers are reportedly upset about their current salaries and classes may be abandoned for the day as the protest, dubbed #UTechBlackout, gets underway.

UTech’s students’ union had issued the call to students to wear black to show their discontent with the “disregard” the Government continues to show towards the university.

According to a release from the Integrity Action Movement at the university, the issue is not that the University of the West Indies gets the most per-capita subvention; it is that the UTech, when compared to other institutions, is ranked near the bottom of the chart.

“It is only fair that the national university of Jamaica receives more support from the Government,” the group argued.

“The issue of subvention allocations given to the institutions is one, which stems from previous years. Though promises have been made to address the situation, it still remains the same,” it said, calling on the Government to be more accountable in levelling the playing field for equal educational opportunities.

Professors at the university along with their unions and officials from the Ministry of Finance are to meet this afternoon at 2:00 pm to discuss a way forward.