Singh calls for GATE panel

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT for Caroni East Ganga Singh on Friday made an urgent call for Government to select an independent panel of persons from various institutions to oversee the newly implemented Government Assistance for Tertiary Education Programme (GATE).

In a press release, Singh explained that he is in full support of any plan which was designed by the Government to replace the Dollar for Dollar plan. However, he stated that he hoped the plan would not just become a “barrier to the advancement of excellent and meritocracy in education.” Singh also stated that he is in support of any plan to increase the level of assistance to citizens wanting to access tertiary level education. The MP noted that the independent panel should be drawn from institutions that will be affected by the plan, and should be made responsible for overseeing the process of determining who is in need of financial assistance. In addition, Singh issued a call for Government to publish the list of criteria to be used in determining what constitutes a needy case.