DESPITE the recent Bill to amend the Maintenance Act of 2005 so as to extend the age for a child to receive financial support from their parent up to age 23, once they’re pursuing tertiary studies, youth are being urged to still play a role in financing their way through school.

While welcoming the amendment move Tahje Wallen, CEO of Youth Education Association — a charitable organisation that assists students with their holistic development and academic journey — cautioned about the financial burden it could place on parents.

“I’m glad that it increased because you have some children who want to go to university but because they reach the age of 18, their parents are now telling them that they are on their own and they have fulfilled their duty,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

However, recognising the financial challenges that plague most parents, resulting in them relinquishing their role as providers after 18 years old, he urged students to do anything they can to assist.

“A lot of parents are not going to have it to find everything, so you need to help yourself as well,” said Wallen.

Reflecting on his personal university experience working full-time and studying, he said he fully understands that it is difficult to both work and pursue an education. However, he noted there are other avenues that can be explored.

“Some students mentally cannot manage both, so if you fall into that category I would say: ‘Do what you can to assist. Even if it’s part-time work you can get to be able to do that and still focus on school, that is perfectly fine. At least you would be lifting the burden from the parents who might not have it themselves and have to still jump through whatever means and ways to get it.’ The help can be both ways if the child can manage it,” he said.

The amendment of the Maintenance Act was piloted by Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck and approved by the House of Representatives on July 23. It will go to the Senate, after which it will be passed into law.

“Prior to the child reaching the age of 18 years, Section 16 (3) of the principal Act allows for an application to be made to the court for the grant of a maintenance order, or for the extension of an existing maintenance order, in the circumstances where the child is or will be engaged in a course of education or training,” said Chuck during his presentation in Parliament.

“In other words, if an application for a maintenance order is not made to the court prior to the child attaining the age of 18 years, then a subsequent application cannot be successfully made in respect of that child who is, or will be, engaged in a course of education or training,” he added.

The minister explained that this allowed a parent to discontinue support for a child if an application was not made before the child reached 18 years old, regardless of if they are in school. There was no recourse for the child or parent who wished to make an application for a maintenance order for that child, after age 18.

The amendment now allows for a maintenance order to be granted after a child reaches 18 years old, once they will be pursuing higher education. The application can be made by either the child or the parent.

However, Wallen believes the order of maintenance should not just be limited to students pursuing higher education or training.

“They could have opened it to say any support at all up to the age of 23 because it is not only school a child may need support for up to 23 years old. They will need other support for other stuff as well so they could have broadened it,” he said.

Sharing similar sentiments is Africka Stephens, executive director and founder of Fi We Children Foundation.

“Jamaicans like to say, ‘Once you’re 18 [years old] I don’t have to do anything for you,’ and that’s not true, because once you’re 18 you don’t stop growing,” said Stephens.

“The realities of society should lead towards up to 23 years old in all cases, where a child can say, ‘Hey, I have a suitable income and a stable job; I can provide for myself.’ I don’t want to overburden the parents so I would say maybe they can give a stipend or some financial help if a child is not going to tertiary school,” she said.