Take Note: GATE - September 2017

[desifemlove]

And I blame both PNM/UNC for this, doh care who that vexes. UNC expanded it on programmes, PNM didn't devise a strategic end on it.

[zoom rader]

All this means is that less PNM type ppl will not be able to afford education.
Well done Rowley

[bluefete]

so SBCS going bust soon? shame if it did, it's a boss institution. not sure what other revenue they does get, them CCNA and ACTT and sheit ent enough to sustain it.

Actually, SBCS, SAM and even UWI all have, as part of their strategic plans, to make more money from non-GATE courses / programmes.

It will be tough for SBCS / SAM though. But there are people still willing to pay for a quality education.

[dougla_boy]

gude.... i tawt nobody would ah post this..... I called GATE and got that info OP posted.....

SBCS telling yuh register for GATE for the first semester and dem eh even know wah happening after....they saying register for the first semester but cater to pay out yuh own pocket for the remaining semesters. and they eh sure to drop fees!

[Dizzy28]

so SBCS going bust soon? shame if it did, it's a boss institution. not sure what other revenue they does get, them CCNA and ACTT and sheit ent enough to sustain it.

Actually, SBCS, SAM and even UWI all have, as part of their strategic plans, to make more money from non-GATE courses / programmes.

It will be tough for SBCS / SAM though. But there are people still willing to pay for a quality education.

SBCS knew the buss was coming long time. Since last year they started sending home staff. They significantly smaller now than say two years ago.

[bluefete]

SBCS knew the buss was coming long time. Since last year they started sending home staff. They significantly smaller now than say two years ago.

That is quite true. They have gotten much smaller. They have done a lot of consolidation.

SBCS and SAM might be able to rally through this. But the smaller institutions will get hit hard.

Watch for unemployment to rise.

[nervewrecker]

Sbcs keep emailing me to enroll

[timelapse]

Theres an old saying that comes to mind when I saw that theology schools were being allowed, and why PNM would want that.

" A nation of sheep will be ruled by wolves"

It makes lying to the public a lot easier as they are accustomed to fairytales

[trinipunter]

There is a difference between accreditation and registration of tertiary institutions.

well said

[racedriverpro]

[quote="trinipunter"][quote="civicman"]There is a difference between accreditation and regis

[shake d livin wake d dead]

gude.... i tawt nobody would ah post this..... I called GATE and got that info OP posted.....

SBCS telling yuh register for GATE for the first semester and dem eh even know wah happening after....they saying register for the first semester but cater to pay out yuh own pocket for the remaining semesters. and they eh sure to drop fees!

racket hada run boyyy

[bluefete]

Questions surround GATE funding for private institutions

Natalie Briggs Thursday, June 8 2017

The sun hung low over the quadrangle and the air was still. The combination was stifling for anyone sitting under the tents and for the prospective students and parents who attended this UWI Open Day. There was music though, and the atmosphere was festive, even as the event wound down on the late Sunday afternoon Business Day visited.

We asked some attendees if they were concerned about how changes in the GATE programme would affect their schooling.

One parent was unaffected by the changes, at least for now. He has a daughter studying in Canada.

Meanwhile, his son who is the second year of his IT degree is safe. As he started the programme before last year’s changes, his degree will be fully funded until he finishes.

The parent was concerned about a younger daughter still in secondary school though. He thought his portion of the fees for her degree will be exorbitant. He doesn’t remember Minister Garcia breakdown of the parents’ contribution under the new GATE system amounting to hundreds of dollars per month according to the degree, with totals of less than $4,000 for most programmes.

Another parent looked wistfully around the campus. Even though he was there for his daughter, he told us he would have liked to have gone back to do a Master’s programme. He can’t though. He is now over the age limit for funding. They seemed to be in a minority, however.

“Most people didn’t ask about GATE,” said an administrative officer on duty for the afternoon shift, “I provided the information because it was there.

But it didn’t appear to be a concern.” But if funding does not yet appear to be a concern at public educational institutions, it certainly is at the private ones. When we last wrote about the GATE programme, we projected that the private institutions would feel the brunt of the cuts. We wrote: “The first big losers are likely to be private tertiary institutions. Several of the private tertiary schools we approached were reluctant to discuss their enrolment prior to GATE and after its introduction as well as their levels of profitability over the same period.

However, some extrapolations can be made based on other information.

Government expenditure for GATE has steadily increased over the past 10 years… From 472.8 million in financial year 2006/07, both the finance and education ministers have estimated that between $650 and $700 million has been spent on GATE every year since 2010.

Additionally, checks with the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago show that roughly over the same period, 81 institutions sought to be registered. An institution cannot be considered for GATE unless it is at least registered with ACTT. Documents on the Education Ministry’s scholarship division page average that the cost of a post graduate degrees at a public tertiary institution is roughly $70,000, the cost at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, is around $100,000 and the cost at other private institutions is around $140,000, or about twice that of the public schools.

Even though undergrad degrees cost less, they are also more expensive at the private institutions owing to the fact that a number of them are foreign based.

“The above would indicate that over the past 10 years, private institutions have been receiving a handsome portion of GATE funding, although the figures do not show if they have been receiving more or less than public institutions.” We have subsequently been able to obtain figures for the cost to taxpayers of nationals’ schooling at private tertiary institutions. From 2004 to 2015, the government has spent $212,786,822 at private institutions, just slightly over half of the $421,875,568 spent at public institutions.We also noted at the time that private institutions were likely to see significant reductions in GATE funding support because several of their degree programmes were not aligned to stated national skill priorities. It appears as though our projections were right, if reports coming out of the private tertiary education sector are any indication.

Business Day has sought interviews with executives at several of the country’s leading private institutions, but again, as was the case last year, was unsuccessful.

Sources tell us, though that the situation is likely to be grim.

At one major institution, closure of branches is already being considered in anticipation of lowered class numbers.

According to our sources, the GATE administration office of the Ministry of Education has signaled that funding will be cut “across the board” at private institutions. At another institution, the administration has signaled changes to lecturers’ rosters. Previously, the lecturers were signed to a fixed contract over the school year. Now, they will be paid according to class numbers. One source told Business Day that the silence on the issue continues to be disturbing.

“The ministers aren’t communicating with us at all,” they said.

In turn, the schools aren’t able to provide much information to current or prospective students.

“People need to know what’s going on so that come 2017. Students need to be able to come in and be able to ask questions. And not be startled when they come in and find out that programmes they thought were funded are no longer and they will now be covered out of pocket,” said the source.

Business Day attempted to reach the GATE Administration Office through its office numbers and email, however, we were unsuccessful in getting responses.

Next week, we explore the GATE issue further, as we attempt to contact the both the Minister of Education and the GATE Administration Office for an update on how the programme intends to treat with private institutions.

[Monkey Man]

maybe soon allyuh UWI degrees may be worth more and 2 doubles and a solo....

[Drea]

I find it hard to believe the UWI administration was saying people didn't really ask about GATE at the open day, I know I was there and I asked! Not that they could give an answer
The gov't will feel the backlash of this very soon, it's already June and the new school year is quickly approaching come September, people are in a limbo and not sure what to expect financially. You think they'd have things straightened out by now.

[The_Honourable]

I have to give blufete credit. Thought in the beginning it was a focus on Institutional Accreditation and ignoring Program Accreditation.

I called GATE late last week about funding for institutions that have program approval but not institutional approval. The representative was vague and beat around the bush a lot, not confirming or denying what is going on. That's when I realized that there is legitimacy with what bluefete brought up.

[K74T]

A very rare occurrence.

[Dizzy28]

How can no one give any details on how GATE's money was spent through out the years?
GATE by programme, by institution etc.

This has to be one of the most worst run programmes in T&T's history.

[dougla_boy]

I have to give blufete credit. Thought in the beginning it was a focus on Institutional Accreditation and ignoring Program Accreditation.

I called GATE late last week about funding for institutions that have program approval but not institutional approval. The representative was vague and beat around the bush a lot, not confirming or denying what is going on. That's when I realized that there is legitimacy with what bluefete brought up.

they simply say that accredited institutions would have full funding, while registered institutions eh getting sh!t...

[bluefete]

A very rare occurrence.

You just 'jelly'.

[10-01]

How can no one give any details on how GATE's money was spent through out the years?
GATE by programme, by institution etc.

This has to be one of the most worst run programmes in T&T's history.

any of the programmes run by the government evr comes out successful ?

[bluefete]

HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA.

COSTAATT now looking to get GATE money for ALL those prior years??????

Somebody should lose their wuk!!!

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2017-07- ... 0%94garcia

Costaatt causes panic over Gate payments
Unfortunate error—Garcia

Published:
Wednesday, July 12, 2017


Dr Gillian Paul

Education Minister Anthony Garcia is now probing an “unfortunate error” made by the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of T&T (Costaatt) over payments under the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses programme (Gate).

Garcia’s action was prompted after thousands of students were given the impression, via an official Costaatt email, that they would have to pay their own tuition fees as far back as the 2013/2014 academic year as a result of Government’s impending changes to the programme.

The memo addressing the issue initially notified students that they would have to pay for Gate from the 2013-14 academic year dating up to just concluded academic year. It also told students that the new Gate arrangements would kick in from the new academic year from August 21, 2017.

This left many current and even former students wondering whether they would have to find money to both repay tuition fees and for the forthcoming academic year.

But after the issue was discussed on social media and on the local airwaves yesterday, Costaatt subsequently amended the notification memo, which was apparently sent prematurely by Costaatt.

A clarification was posted on Costaatt’s social media page said the message only applied to students who still had not yet applied for Gate funding for the periods in question. In the updated correspondence, the institution said it urges students on a “regular basis” to get up-to-date with their Gate applications, adding “many have not as yet attempted to apply for past academic sessions.”

GML understands the notification was sent to students after correspondence from the Gate office was issued indicating that students who were not up to date with their applications for past academic years would not be recognised after a certain period.

When GML contacted on the issue yesterday, Costaatt director Gillian Paul did not use the word “error” but admitted the initial email “may not have been explicit enough.”

“It wasn’t a miscommunication. I think when folks read it they did not focus on the word ‘application.’ The fact of the matter is that students are sometimes slow in submitting their request for Gate funding. The college has been working with them and set up its own Gate support centre to get them to process their applications in a timely fashion,” Paul said.

“Sometimes the turnaround from the Gate office might not be as quick as we need it to be. And what actually happened is we received notification from the Gate office that for students who had not yet submitted applications for past periods they would not be entertaining those requests.”

On who issued that notification, Paul said it was the “Funding and Grant Division.”

“We were trying to process the backlog of outstanding funds and we were trying to alert our students that this was a potential risk for them and that they should move very quickly to try and submit their applications for those past periods, and the formulation could have been more explicit about the fact that it was speaking about the students who had not yet submitted their Gate applications for past period and the students read it as all students and all funding owed from that period and that’s what triggered the panic,” Paul said.

She said it was subsequently clarified with the ministry’s permanent secretary and students that this applied to a “restricted group.”

Apology by text

But also contacted last evening, Garcia said he too was baffled over how Costaatt could have issued such a memo.

He said, “I received a text from the director of Costaatt apologising for the error and it has been corrected. It was an unfortunate error.”

Pressed further, the minister said, “I really don’t know and I am finding out exactly what happened.”

Under the new measures for the Gate programme, students will face a means test to determine if they qualify for assistance, what amount they will get, or if they will any at all. Asked when this will take effect, Garcia said: “We have set out the perimeters that would kick in from September 2017.”

He said students would be subjected to a means test and their household income would also be taken into consideration in determining whether they would qualify for Gate or not.

Following are the memos issued by Costaatt over the Gate programme:

First memo:

Dear Students,

Please be advised that the Ministry of Education has informed us (Costaatt), that from August 1st 2017 there will be no payments for GATE applications made for the following academic years:

• 2013-2014

• 2014-2015

• 2015-2016

They have also indicated that from January 1st 2018 there will be no payments for GATE Applications made for the academic year 2016-2017.

Those students who are not in receipt of GATE funding, for the academic years listed above, will be required to settle all tuition fees, using personal funds, before the beginning of the new academic year on August 21st 2017.

Further, queries on the details above may be sent to registrar@costaatt.edu.tt or call 625-5030 ext 5257/5265.

Updated memo:

Dear Students,

Further to the communication sent to you yesterday, we have received several e-mails seeking clarification on the different status levels of a GATE application. We also take this opportunity to clarify that the message sent below only applies to students who have not as yet made an attempt to apply for GATE funding for the cited periods.

As you are all aware, at every registration period, the College urges students “to get up to date with GATE”. Messages to this effect are sent out quite often but to-date, we note that many students have not as yet attempted to apply for past academic sessions.

Based on correspondence from the GATE office, please note again that if you have not applied for retroactive periods 2014-2016, you will not be allowed to do so after August 1st 2017.

GATE has also committed to reviewing 2013-2014 missed applications and if there are legitimate reasons for the non-application for funding, some consideration will be given to determine if funding is still possible. As the GATE office has indeed been working with us, you are hereby urged to take advantage of the support offered by the Office of the Registrar Costaatt to have all outstanding GATE applications brought up to date before 1st August 2017.

[widdyphuck]

Too much institutions get rich over night from this GATE money. Time to cut it out..

[vaiostation]

^^^I want to know how this bug get inside my computer screen, only to realise is a DP...

[maj. tom]

So UWI has decided to drop their standards for the Faculty Social Sciences. More bad apples in the mix, all for money over integrity. Not good news for research accreditation I suppose, which UWI obviously doesn't care about if they're doing this.

THE University of the West Indies (The UWI) has taken a decision to lower the entry requirements for the Faculty of Social Sciences given a drastic drop in the number of applicants.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170723 ... te-fallout

[Drea]

I wonder why only the Social Science faculty? Yes soc sci may seem to have what many deem the "easy" degrees but so too does law/ econ/ finance fall under soc sci. Does this mean we are going to be seeing a higher than average failure rate.
I am entirely not convinced this has much to do with GATE.

[Kenjo]

What is the practical use of some of those degrees though ? When having these degrees for having a degree sake is alright if someone was getting it free but now it's not economically feasible

[hydroep]

12 for Management Studies...

Back in the day it was serious dogfight tuh get into that program.

[Drea]

What is the practical use of some of those degrees though ? When having these degrees for having a degree sake is alright if someone was getting it free but now it's not economically feasible

All degrees have a purpose, how you use it is key. And regardless now most jobs are asking for a degree as a minimum criteria.

[Drea]

12 for Management Studies...

Back in the day it was serious dogfight tuh get into that program.

Yep I management faculty was usually the largest.

[Dizzy28]

12 for Management Studies...

Back in the day it was serious dogfight tuh get into that program.

Only to enter life and realize you were probably better off with an actual and specific degree in an academic field such as Economics or Accounting than a broad one called Management.