Joseph Pereira (left), Deputy Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus, talks with Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education at a seminar for guidance counsellors at the UWI Thursday. - Ian Allen /Staff Photographer
MAXINE HENRY-WILSON, Minister of Education is encouraging guidance counsellors and principals to begin, from the first form, to educate students about the cost and requirements of tertiary education.
She was speaking Thursday at a seminar about the challenges and opportunities of the University of the West Indies (UWI), at the Mona campus.
Minister Henry-Wilson described the seminar as a very important and necessary one.
"Making choice for tertiary education is perhaps the most weighty decision students will make and university life requires funding," she said.
She noted that while Government was committed to continue subsidising the 80 per cent of student fees, parents also had an obligation to keep their end of the bargain which is currently about 17 per cent of the cost of attending the UWI.
Selvin Goldson, divisional manager of customer services, suggested that guidance counsellors help students to make a budget of the expenses associated with attending university and encourage their parents to plan to meet these expenses. This he said was one method of ensuring students are prepared for school.The seminar is part of the UWI's thrust to improve student preparedness for university especially the financial aspect, which many have a difficult time managing.
