There should be no VAT on private education now

Dear Editor,

The providers of private education are contributing efficiently to the education of a large number of students, ie young people of this nation and have been doing so cheerfully for a long time, in some cases to their financial disadvantage. Because of this there should be no Value-added Tax (VAT) on private education now.

Many of the students are from poor families who cannot afford an additional financial burden on the family budget. It is evident that in many cases a family is poor but will have a child or perhaps children who are academically ahead of their peers, and would need a better quality of education not provided by some of the government schools in Guyana. Without wanting to dabble in partisan politics on this vexed matter, I respectfully ask that our government and all concerned convene a special meeting to consult on this issue and/or appoint a special committee of learned men and women to listen to the views on all sides.

It is a known fact that most of the private schools in this country provide a better quality of education to children who may one day in the future make significant contributions to the further development of our country.

Yours faithfully,

Rooplall Dudhnath