Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, July 14, the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), on its website (http://www.hwls.edu.tt/ fees), unveiled new tuition fees which are effective from the 2015-16 academic year. According to the information published, students from UG who are looking to pursue their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at HWLS are now required to pay TT$91,014 (some G$2.9million) per year for the two-year programme. This brings the cost for both years of study to TT$182,028 (some G$5.8million).
The new tuition fee represents an increase of roughly G$1.6 million, as the previous total cost to complete the LEC programme was approximately G$4.2million, at a yearly cost of around TT$67,500 (some G$2.2million).
There are currently 27 UG graduates preparing for their second and final year of LEC studies at HWLS. The majority of these students would have graduated at the top of the graduating class of 2014, thus earning one of the coveted 25 automatic placements made available to UG students last year. The others gained acceptance into HWLS after successfully taking the school’s entrance examination. This examination is extremely competitive and only the very best performers from across the Caribbean are granted places at the school.
Needless to say, the batch of students representing UG at HWLS at the moment are no doubt among our country’s sharpest budding legal minds.
But qualifying for available posts was only half the struggle for the majority of these students. Many of them come from families which, on their own, could not afford the tuition. Nevertheless, through determination and resourcefulness they accumulated the required sum to make, at the very least, the first year’s tuition. The UGLS is aware that some students were still in the process of accumulating the tuition for the final year when the new fees were released. However, the provisions that they had put in place will only see them acquiring the former amount of around TT$65,700.
It is also material to point out that in addition to tuition many of these students have to find funds to cover housing, food, electricity, gas, and transportation costs. These costs come up to several thousand TT dollars monthly.
The UGLS has spoken to several of these students since the new fees were posted and they all expressed concern that the increased fees may result in a premature end to their LEC studies.
The fact is that they are unsure whether they will be able to find the additional G$800,000 or so by the stipulated deadline.
Moreover, students are no longer able to pay each year’s tuition in parts. As per a new rule, students must present 100 per cent of the tuition fee by the stipulated academic deadline. Failure to do so will result in a defaulting student being barred from commencing and completing the final year of the LEC programme.
The UGLS is therefore asking that the Government of Guyana (GoG), including but not limited to Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams, intervene in this matter in a manner that will see a favourable resolution for our students.
The UGLS recommends that government, in this instance, cover the additional amount of G$800,000 either through a loan or work-service arrangement with students who are in need.
If this is not feasible, government may consider, in a one-off arrangement, paying the school’s economic cost for the coming academic year. This would serve to reduce what students going into their final year are required to pay. Yet another option would be to engage financial entities towards having them render assistance to the students.
Government may also try engaging the officials of HWLS to allow our students some amount of leeway.
It must be noted that the fee increase does not apply solely to Guyanese students but also to nationals from several other countries ‒ St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, and other common law jurisdictions ‒ which do not pay the economic costs for their students. Students from these jurisdictions have also had their tuition increased to TT$91,104 per year.
In light of the foregoing, it would be remiss of us to add to the call for Guyana to establish a local law school at which students can read for their LECs and other such qualifications. We are aware that the Council for Legal Education (CLE) had approved a past request for Guyana to set up such an institution and that a location had even been selected. The President of Guyana, David Granger, during an engagement with UG students during his campaign, indicated that his government will work toward ensuring that such a school becomes a reality before his tenure is through. We submit, however, that the time is ripe, and that steps should commence as soon as is practicable.
This hike in tuition fees will send Guyanese, as well as students from across the Caribbean looking for more affordable arrangements. Guyana would be able to provide that. The quality of the UG LLB is in every way on par with the UWI LLB, yet the UG LLB pogramme costs a fraction of what the UWI LLB is offered for.
There is no doubt that Guyana will be able to produce an LEC programme and that, at the very least, it will be comparable to what is offered at HWLS, Eugene Dupoch Law School, and other law schools across the Caribbean. The establishment of such a school though, cannot be done overnight, or in a few months.
HWLS, though, opens its doors again in just about two months. Our UG graduates have limited options. They need our assistance. We need to help them in one way or another,
Yours faithfully
Chevy Devonish
UGLS President
