Central government has changed but University of Belize students say their demand for more money, autonomy, and scholarship opportunities – remain the same. In the weeks leading up to the elections - the students walked out of class and across Belize City to the Prime Minister’s office. But this time they are being more diplomatic. They say these are no longer demands – they prefer to call them requests - which the students will make in person to Education Minister Patrick Faber tomorrow. They laid out the proposals to the media this afternoon and 7NEWS was there.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Number one on the wish list is a 150% increase in GOB’s subvention to the school.
Moses Sulph, UB Student Government President
“We want the budget to be increased for the next fiscal year for the national university from $10 million to $25 million. Some might say that is a big jump however if we ever envision the national university living up to its name then we would need this additional amount of money in this budget for probably the next three or four years. If we get the $15 million increase, basically it would give us breathing space that…. We need a budget that will accomplish the expansion needed at the University of Belize. We are saying that the government can get this basically from a percentage of the oil revenue and also a portion of the tourism tax.
As know it is very hard sometimes for university students to come up with the funding necessary to cover their education, the cost of their education. Some say education is inexpensive but who feels it knows it and many of us here who come from families whereby it is just minimum wage and like that, it is very hard for us so we know what we are going through and there are a lot of students also who know and feel the blunt of that. So we are saying that we would like a funding institution managed by UB and students with government funding that would make financial assistance available to students at tertiary schools in Belize City.”
But it’s not all about money – student government president Moses Sulph says UB students also want a seat on the Senate and more autonomy from government.
Moses Sulph,
“For the last 8 years the Presidents of the University have been appointed whereby a government gets in and they appoint a president who only serves sometimes serve their purpose. So we are saying if there is a process whereby that no longer takes place, that a government can just come here and appoint somebody who will do things within their favor rather than do things that will actually benefit the university. So we’re saying that make it whereby if the person has to be employed through the process, you put out bids and interviews, and we the students will have a say and the faculty and staff will have a say in whoever is chosen at the end so we know that person will come here and work in the best interest of the students.
We would like a senator who would represent the tertiary level sector so that the voices of the people on this level can be heard. Not only university students but if we have a Senator there then and there are national issues that we want to push, then we can do so also.”
Sulph says these are requests - not demands – but his student government expects a fair hearing from the new government – or else.
Moses Sulph,
“At this point basically it is just a change of government, nothing with the University has changed. The issues remain the same, the classrooms, the campuses remain the same so nothing has changed. We will go through the same process that we have been going through: consultation, consolidation and then we hope it doesn’t get to confrontation. But we are hoping it doesn’t get there however it is the same stance that we have. We remain with the same focus, the development of the university and we will take the same steps if necessary.”
Tyrone Chimilio, Vice-President
“You don’t know what is pretty until you have met ugly. Well at this current time it is a very ugly situation for this university. At this current moment, we are moving for development and like from the last time when we walked out from class – it was for the very same thing – for development of this university. When you asked about will it be easier working along with this current government, that’s something we do hope for and we’re not sure of. But at this moment we are still being prepared in making sure that our university gets developed – that is the university students’ objective.”
That meeting with Education Minister Patrick Faber is scheduled for tomorrow morning in Belmopan. There are 5 major proposals and included in the request for increase in subvention is renovation work on campuses – especially the Belize City and Toledo campuses. The students complain that at the Belize City campus the library and computer labs are inadequate while the bathroom and classrooms are dilapidated. That is more so for students enrolled in the engineering program who don’t even have a campus.
