Padarath: Gate Changes Will Result in High Dropout Rate Among Youth and Closure of Private Institutions

Mr. Barry Padarath, MP
Member for Princes Town

Princes Town MP Barry Padarath in a press release criticized the move by government to make changes to the GATE Program. Padarath said that the announcement made by the government will see two things happening in the tertiary education sector. First he expects that there will be a high dropout rate among young students since many of them and their families depend on GATE for full tuition.

Secondly he said with the sweeping changes several private academic institutions will face possible closures since many of them target persons who are employed.

Padarath indicated that there was a general feeling among the youths that opportunities for a better quality of life was being taken away from them and that the state should not see education as a burden on the treasury but rather as an investment in the future of the nation.

He lamented that many young people would be forced to curtail their ambitions since the new restrictions in place do not take into consideration other expenses incurred by students in the tertiary education sector such as accommodations, books, transportation and homes with multiple persons pursuing tertiary education.

The Princes Town MP said he saw this as a retrograde step by the government. He believed that this move may result in a frustrated youth population in the country especially when unemployment is already so high and there has been little or no job creation since the new administration took office.
Padarath warned the government that the dismantling of the social safety net and the strides made in the education sector by the partnership government may result in higher levels of crime, suicides, poverty and other social problems.

He further added that the closure of private academic institution meant several things such as unemployment and a decline in the economic activity in the sector.

Padarath said he had absolutely no faith in the government’s promise to institute a means test since the PNM had a sordid history with secret scholarships and discrimination in the tertiary education sector.