Day 17 - Post Submission | What Our Tourism Minister - Government Expects of UTech, Jamaica

Hi Friends,

Wishing you and family a blessed Easter Sunday.  Still a symbol of hope and a good future.

And may that be the reality of our national University, the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) and soon!

Today is the 17th day since we submitted our petition to our Government of Jamaica. I have not seen an acknowledgement.

It is also the 44th day since we started our petition on March 9th, 2019.

UTech, Jamaica has not indicated to staff and students any new update on the resolution of the Government Subvention issue.

As we wait, we note with curiousity the continued  demands that our Government of Jamaica continues to place on our national university to contribute to our nation...despite their non-responsiveness. The link to the article is below.

Why Is the Subvention Important?

As you think of and discuss UTech, Jamaica and this subvention issue, it is important to bear in mind the following:

• The Government of Jamaica has undertaken the responsibility to provide education for its citizens, hence government own educational institutions at all academic levels
• Government owned educational institutions are not allowed to charge their students-customers the full commercial cost of the educational services provided. This is the case regardless of economic climate.
• The Government's subvention is the Government's allowance to government owned educational institutions to off-set the costs in the provision of educational services, since the institutions cannot charge the real fees for the educational services they provide.
• The Government of Jamaica has consistently championed the expansion of access to tertiary education by our citizens, as a factor of our nation's development Goals
• The Government of Jamaica has chided the University for expanding, despite requiring UTech, Jamaica to take on the management of several programmes including, Nursing, Mid-wifery, Oral Health and Public Heath...without providing additional funding or other resources to support these inherited programmes.

Do continue to STAND UP for UTech, Jamaica.

Do continue to share the petition and let's get to 20,000 signatures as we wait.

Enjoy your day!

~Cheryll 
Cheryll Messam
cheryllrm@yahoo.com