No need for University of TT (UTT)

THE EDITOR: The University of the West Indies (UWI) is the only successful regional institution that has gained widespread support by all Caricom people. Caricom understands that the quality of education at UWI is exceptional.

They support UWI even more than they support the West Indies cricket team. UWI has produced generations of human resources such as political leaders, prime ministers, and other professionals of exceptional quality. Instead of further investing in UWI, this Government is now working to set up a University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), to compete with UWI and undermine its financial viability. Admission to UWI is based on meritocracy. Students gain entrance to UWI based on their “A” Level results. This regime is proposing a University of Trinidad and Tobago only to cater for students who have made low grades at “A”Levels and therefore unable to gain admission to UWI. It is clear that a degree from the UTT would be of a much lower standard than one attained at UWI. This is evidence that this present regime has a real problem with anything that has to do with excellence, justice and fairness. They would water down anything, just to be manipulative. They now intend to hand out Junior Sec degrees, continue to foster mediocrity in our society, and at the same time keep mouthing first world status by 2020.

CXC is already of a much lower standard than Cambridge. This regime has decided to put the icing on the cake by recognising Grade 3 in CXC O-Levels. It is anybody’s guess as to who they are trying to prop up and give employment access to government agencies by distributing Junior Sec degrees and recognising Grade 3 in CXC O-Levels. They must lower the academic requirements in order to remain in power. Anytime they raise the academic requirements for employment access to any government agency, the ethnic composition is bound to change. It was indeed very disheartening as well to hear someone like President Max Richards, being a former Principal of UWI supporting the proposal of the UTT. Of all persons, President Max should know that any student desiring to be a professional of exceptional quality couldn’t be a student of mediocrity. Most of the scholars of excellence in TT gravitate to the field of medicine. This waste of financial resources should instead be used to expand UWI. We must promote excellence, merit and regional integrity by efficient and rational means. We cannot be talking about political union while undermining UWI and the principle of meritocracy.

REX  MAHADEO
Marabella