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A $20 million Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) fraud has allegedly been discovered at the School of Business and Computer Sciences (SBCS) educational institution. The shocking revelation was detected in April 2010, following a review of the findings of an audit conducted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education during the period March 2008 to 2010. The institution, which has campuses in Champs Fleurs, Trincity, Port-of-Spain and San Fernando, is owned by founder and executive director Robin Maraj. Tomorrow the institution will celebrate its 25th anniversary, since its inception in 1987. The audit allegedly questioned certain practices adopted by the institution and the legitimacy of millions of dollars in tuition claims for student funding. The ministry is demanding that Maraj reimburse tuition funding totalling $20,215,254.65. The figure represents a revised sum that originally was listed at $41,065,225.52. Sunday Guardian understands that following the findings the institution submitted additional evidence that was not produced at the time of the audit. The records were reviewed by the auditors and the sum, which was revised on two occasions, remains outstanding to date. Maraj, in 2004, had taken issue with his institute being excluded from the Dollar-For-Dollar Programme, claiming that many students were deprived from accessing tertiary education because they were unable to afford tuition fees. The institution, however, was among the list of tertiary educational institutes that met the qualifying accreditation status for GATE funding implemented later that year. It was by letter dated April 15, 2010, senior auditor Dianne Alleyne attached to the Funding and Grants Administration Division wrote to Maraj informing him of the findings of the audit.
Official documents obtained by Sunday Guardian revealed that the audit was conducted in three stages:
• The internal check was concluded at the head office prior to the physical “on site” examination of records,
• The “on site” visit and examination of records by the audit teams,
• The analysis at head office of the data retrieved on site at the institution,
Alleyne further noted that failure by the institution to keep proper accounting and attendance records caused a delay and posed a challenge for the auditors.
The following shortcomings were noted at the institution:
• Failure of the institution to prepare the quarterly reconciliation statement which is a requirement of the Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the institution and the ministry,
• Failure of the institution to maintain proper attendance records as outlined in the agreement,
• The inability of the institution’s staff to provide requested information on a timely basis which included a delay in producing the student result listings for each degree programme.
The findings also revealed that the institution failed to keep adequate attendance records for all programmes. Further probing revealed that the ministry was forced to give a directive to stop the distribution of cheques until the audit was concluded, after it was discovered that the institution did not reimburse monies paid to most of the students whose names appeared on the list for the academic year 2005/2006. The observation of the non-conformities, Sunday Guardian learnt, led to the auditors preparing a reconciliation statement for reimbursements to students who pursued courses during the academic year 2005/2006 and ultimately withdrew or dropped out at the time the attendance records were examined by the auditors. In another letter to Maraj on September 5, 2011, Alleyne noted that the findings of the audit were reviewed and most of the attendance registers submitted did not contribute to any major changes but in fact supported the position of the audit. It was also noted that the institution failed to comply with the auditors’ request to provide the ministry with results to support each course the students were registered for during their period of study at the institution, especially relating to students pursuing that Association of Business Executive Programme. Alleyne further stated to Maraj: “The GATE policy states that full-time or part-time programmes of less than two years duration—no additional payment on behalf of students who continue beyond the normal duration.” A reimbursement, Sunday Guardian understands, was also requested for students who received more than one payment for these programmes.
The institution, investigations further revealed, is also being ordered to reimburse the ministry for tuition funding relating to several programmes of study at the following foreign institutions:
• University of London-$3,815,260
• University of Sunderland-$758,597.50
• University of Leicester-$346,139.80
• University of Greenwich-$102,448
• Herriot-Watt University-$936,865
• Association of Business Executives-$5,482,337.71
• The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants-$1,497,842.33
• Chartered Institute of Marketing-$577,565
• Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply-$644,079
• ED Excel International-$543,730
• City and Guilds-$1,235,593
Findings showed that although a number of students withdrew or dropped out from the programmes, tuition claims were submitted to the ministry for funding. In some instances investigations revealed students did not pursue any course. In addition, Sunday Guardian understands the institution is also being ordered to refund the sum of $3,274,797.31 that was not reimbursed to students pursuing courses during the academic year 2005/2006. The matter is expected to come up for hearing on March 1 at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain.
Maraj: Ministry in breach of agreement
But even as the millions of dollars in tuition funding remain outstanding and unaccounted for, Maraj has taken the ministry to task for the alleged breach of the 2009 agreement between them and his institution. In a claim for damages filed on January 10, Maraj is claiming that the ministry is in breach of the December 1 agreement reached between his attorneys and ministry officials that was aimed at resolving the issue. Maraj stated his attorneys by letter dated December 2, wrote to the ministry and enclosed a draft arbitration relating to the refund of $20,215,254.65. Eleven days later, Maraj stated the ministry responded, stating: “The ministry is not interested in pursuing any further alternative dispute resolution measures.”
Maraj is claiming that the ministry has failed or refused to:
• In breach of the 2009 agreement to pay the claimant the sum of $27,996,098.32 due to the claimant for the unpaid applications under the 2009 agreement or any part thereof,
• To pay the claimant the sum of $5,118,250 or any part thereof due to the claimant under the implied contract,
• In breach of the December 2011 agreement to pay the claimant the sum of $8, 911,295 which it agreed to pay thereunder by December 15, 2011 or any part thereof.
The claim states that Maraj accepted the ministry’s repudiation of the December 2011 agreement in a letter written on behalf of his attorneys on December 19.
Maraj is now seeking the following damages:
• The sum of $8,911,295 for damages for breach of the December 2011 agreement,
• The sum $19,084,794.32 (being the sum of $27,996,089.32 less the sum of $8,911,295.00) under the 2009 agreement,
• Alternatively to the relief claimed in (a) and (b) immediately above, the sum of $27,996,089.32 under the 2009 agreement,
• The sum of $5,118,250 under the implied contracts,
• Costs,
• Interest on the aforesaid sums pursuant to Section: 25 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act at such rate and for such period as the court deem just and or other relief as to the court may deem just.
Contacted by Sunday Guardian for comment on the issue yesterday, Maraj said: “At this point I do not wish to comment on the matter.” Several attempts to contact Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim up to late yesterday proved futile.
geometron wrote:oh gaaad oyeee.. is uwi for it now!
redmanjp wrote:but is since 2010 d article say so why dey now publishing it
VexXx Dogg wrote:sureifbobol
saxman642 wrote:Once I can complete my course/degree, oui.
ElectricoS wrote:wow, isn't sbcs some kinda foreign university ? with all those london , greenwich degree programs....
ElectricoS wrote:wow, isn't sbcs some kinda foreign university ? with all those london , greenwich degree programs....
pioneer wrote:ElectricoS wrote:wow, isn't sbcs some kinda foreign university ? with all those london , greenwich degree programs....
shake d livin wake d dead wrote:UWI get real strict with this gate thing,men have to pay for their tuition if GPA is under 1.....and yuh noe it have real men having tuh pay!!!!!...geeeezzzzzzz
MadCrix wrote:all they had to do was tie it to sucessful graduation or passign of subjects like canada
pay to write subject, if you pass u get back half... plain and simple
but nooo yuh had to make it with bobol in mind steupse
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