Minister of Education: No increase in U.B. fees

Following media reports regarding student outcry against possible increases in the cost of tertiary education at the University of Belize in January, this afternoon Minister of Education Francis Fonseca clarified government’s position on the issue.

Francis Fonseca, Ministry of Education
?There will be no increase in fees. There was a discussion over the summer that there would be a proposed increase in fees for the 2006-2007 academic year. After a lot of discussion we decided that, primarily because there was not a student loan programme in place that we would defer that increase. So for this year, for this academic year, there will be no increase. It is not for one semester it is for both semesters. After the end of the school year if there is an effective student loan programme in place–because that is an important concern of mine?then we will sit down and have a proper discussion about any proposed increase in fees and what those increases should be. There is going to be the IT-VET building on the campus. The faculty of engineering will be there. The IT-VET building means that there will be labs, workshops, a cafeteria and new offices as well the project. The C.D.B. project is allowing us to use some of those funds as well to refurbish and rehabilitate the existing structures on the Freetown Campus, which have been deteriorating and falling a part over the last few years. It is quite ironic to hear some of the people talking now did nothing while those facilities deteriorated and really went to nothing. There are no hidden agendas the property is not for sale and it will not be for sale. It is a good project that I am confident will bring positive development to the university, to the students, to the faculty and to the country.?

According to Fonseca before the next academic year, the students, faculty and education officials will meet to establish a formal student loan programme at the University of Belize to offset school expenses.