Government Weighs Tuition-Free UWI Five Islands Campus for Nationals
The government is considering offering tuition-free education to Antiguans and Barbudans at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Browne said the administration is reviewing the proposal because the government already covers a significant portion of student costs through existing scholarship arrangements.
“Almost every person goes to UWI Five Islands, [and] the government provides a scholarship,” Browne said. “To the extent I’m now speaking to my colleagues about literally making it free. Since we’re paying already anyway, may as well we just make the university education free.”
He said the move would further the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education and promoting long-term national development.
“The whole idea is to ensure that we provide opportunities for continued growth and development for each Antiguan and Barbudan,” Browne said. “We want you to enjoy living standards that are second to none.”
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I must start by stating that I endorse the PM’s position about 80-90% of the time. Today, I find myself falling within the 10-20% range regarding consideration for a tuition-free education at Five Islands Campus.
Some may take offense to this particular point. But, the education system is a natural pyramid. Everyone should be included at the base (primary and secondary), but not everyone would ascend to the top. Simply put, the higher the degree, the fewer the holders.
Absorbing tuition fees will significantly increase the government’s expenditure, which could become unsustainable. What is now in place allows students to apply for a scholarship, which the government approves on a discretionary basis. In this case, the government maintains cash flow control, thereby approving when it can and denying when it cannot.
Absorbing tuition fees at the Five Islands campus while other learning institutions remain underfunded, with outdated facilities and limited resources, creates inequality within the education system. A well-functioning society must be balanced, and the other institutions play a pivotal role in achieving that balance.
Absorbing tuition fees will result in higher taxes, more borrowing, or cuts elsewhere. Either option will have its unique drawbacks.
A tuition-free university will spike applications/enrollment (increase demand) far beyond what the university could handle (exceeding supply). If all applicants were accepted, the university would be overcrowded, resulting in lower academic quality.
Absorbing tuition fees could accelerate brain drain, as many degree-holders are currently struggling to find suitable employment. Therefore, if the economy cannot absorb an influx of degree-holders, graduates may be forced to migrate. Ultimately, Antiguan will pay for their education while another country benefits.
A tuition-free university is a beautiful idea, I must admit. I would have written a paper about education being the main catalyst for social mobility. Therefore, I am well aware of the relationship between an educated society and a country’s economy. But, the consideration is a no for me at this time, particularly when other essential services are under strain.
I would agree to this, free advance education, and free advance medical care/medication. I believe the government should still raise funds that goes directly to the University, market the university to international students and charge fees that could fully fund the university making it profitable and more conducive for it to be free for locals.
I want to top US universities, when I started I was an international student. Which means my tuition was about $90,000 a year (as an international student), while a local student would pay about $25,000 for in state fee, and out of state fee for students from other US state would be about $35,000.
Practically everything at the universities was being funded by international fees and donations (folks wanting to make a difference or wanting their name on sonething). We can use this model and get Antiguans some education but I must say we must also find ways for the locals to use their education locally, by putting these qualified people in the right positions locally.
But at this stage, if you get an Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree or Doctorate degree in Antigua, there is literally no use locally for it. It is why at my office I currently help folks from places like Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, etcetera their US greencard based on degree or work experience.
I am for free education and free medical care but we must also allow Antiguans and Barbudans to use their exceptional ability (degree and or experience) locally to open up more opportunities for locals to use their degrees instead of saying I can’t help you or I can’t help you until I get some money for myself from you.
Working on giving free education must be worked on at the same time with working on allowing these educated folks to be able to open their endeavors without undue delays, complications and political interference (unless it is support). These two or three areas must be worked on together or further problems will arise.
I agree that higher education is important but it is more important to make sure that it is relevant to your field of employment. I would hate to see a person with a degree in nursing in charge of our road program at PWD or a person with a degree in solid waste management in charge of Customs.
What is sad is that most persons seek higher education Just to get a better renumeration only instead of seeking to add value to the work place. TALK ABOUT HAVING EDUCATED SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES.
In closing remember the former comptroller of customs was a highly educated man with plenty letters following his name…well you know how that ended…( Wilful neglect according to the PM)
Noting is free, remove that narrative. Someone must pay for the expenses. TO keep up infrastructure, salary, and operations expenses Money need to be collected. Is how we present the Narrative and avoid this populist propaganda.
Government need to allocate a budget to fund the scholarship of Antiguans, not only in UWI, also in others Universities in order to fulfill the need of professionals in our country. But open the gates of ALL can go for “Free” isn’t a good as we think. Because people will abuse and start using this Free concept to start doing what they want and not what the country need. We no need 5000 Tertiary graduated in Social Sciences field. What they will do? The funds from the Government should be allocated in base of Merits, not in base of political slogans or populist move to gain “Followers”. If we have only 10 good students, then fine, we are spending wisely on them. But offer unlimited funds to allow anybody regardless how is the result on High Schools or College. Im not supporting that. Tertiary education is not a Right is a privilege.
Election is not too far away, observe the things that are happening, the uptick in road works, the talk of repainting Gov’t buildings. Offering free tuition is just another to make the pot more juicy. Antiguans should be accustomed to the playbook by now, of course things will start to trap the gullible ones. Remember the Labourites and Gastonites are not the sharpest tools in the box
Johns Hopkins is offering free tuition for undergraduate students from families earning under $200,000 per year, beginning in fall 2026. Students from families earning under $100,000 will have their full tuition, fees, and living expenses covered with a $0 parent contribution. The university is also making medical school tuition-free for students from families earning under $300,000.
Perfectly spoken truly
I think it could work either way. There are pros and cons to free vs paid. If tuition is made free or lowered significantly then it would be necessary to put a cap on the number of seats offered in a particular programme in a particular year and to offer more places in areas that are needed more to advance the wider society. Making it free does not mean that everyone would be able to attend. It means that those earning the top grades in each area would be able to attend. Once all the seats are filled no one else would be accepted in that programme that academic year. That would prevent society from being overrun with too many of the wrong kinds of degrees. However, free with admission limits would have the effect of making entry a bit more cutthroat though for popular areas. That increased competitiveness might hurt societal cohesion a bit. However, students who do not get into their preferred area can then simply move on to another related area and see whether they get into that one. Since society also needs other non-university grads e.g. more plumbers, builders, farmers etc., the other tertiary institutions in the country would still be needed. University is really about acquiring advanced theoretical knowledge. Not every job needs that. It’s also a lot of challenging work. So, even with the free option, not everyone should be interested in attending. With the free option though, more academically talented but poor students who are interested would be able to head straight to university instead of being forced to take up a job that doesn’t match their interest right away. Or, if they work part time, they could use that money to help their families right away while still getting an education. If we stick with the paid model then there should be enough scholarships etc. to help those who need it.
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