Combine institutes into TT University

THE EDITOR: History and research repeatedly confirm that small developing nations need to allocate their resources with the greatest of care. We in Trinidad and Tobago are not exempt from this principle. Yet we continue to make this grave mistake of misallocation, duplication and creating artificial turf.

Let us take the John Donaldson and San Fernando Technical Institutes for example. They have helped Trinidad and Tobago over the past decades produce technicians and middle managers to meet the imperatives of industrialisation and the growth of commerce. Within recent times how-ever, many of us have been observing with great concern the dismantling of these two technical Institutes. With increasing fervour, the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology, COSTAAT as an umbrella organisation to include our main technical and vocational institutions and The University of Trinidad and Tobago are being promoted. Further the associate degree now seems to be the way to go for many of our tertiary institutions except UWI. While I appreciate the value of this degree, I maintain that they must meet the needs of the nation and not be encouraged only to bring prestige to institutions. I certainly see no reason for introducing them to our technical institutions at the expense of existing NEC programmes.

Our society needs artisans and technicians at all levels. The Senior Comprehensive Schools which at one time was thought to be the source of our future technicians have failed us. Indeed, they have not been able to match the performance of John Donaldson and San Fernando Technical Institute.
Taking all of the above into consideration, I am now constrained to recommend the following to the relevant authorities: Bring John Donaldson Technical Institute, San Fernando Technical Institute, and the Institute of Technology into one entity to form The University of Trinidad and Tobago; Redesign the NEC syllabus for all courses now being offered so that:
1) Secondary schools can deliver part 1 and existing Evening Programmes at our Senior Comprehensive Schools, “John D,” and “San Fernando Tech” part 2;
2) Allow John D and San Fernando Tech to deliver Day and Evening programmes for certain areas critical to national development in general and 2020 vision in particular;
3) confine associate degrees to such institutions as NIHERST, Cipriani Labour College, and recognised private institutions.

Whatever is done, I appeal to the relevant authorities, do not kill the nation’s technical life with a superficial and limited associate degree syndrome. Finally, I believe the time has come for us to stop promoting new initiatives without identifying objectives, providing rationales, and specifying outcomes. Indeed, we must stop rushing into ventures without brainstorming the consequences.

RAYMOND S HACKETT
Curepe