Nassau, Bahamas - The College of the Bahamas Union of Students (COBUS), in its meetings with the Minister of Education and Minister of State of Finance, brought to light many facts concerning the matter of the implementation of new and increased non-tuition fees at the College of the Bahamas, but in extreme displeasure, has yet to find resolution.  

At the meeting with the Minister of Education, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, on Monday April 22nd, 2013, students present shared that despite the Government’s investment in scholarship and financial assistance, that scholarships do not cover non-tuition fees, and that many students still will be burdened with paying them. We shared the many details of the College’s poor and insufficient services and resources, and how the fees were unfairly implemented without justification, against due process, against inclusion, and without research. We shared that the College’s recent command to have registered financial aid students find 33% of their total balances by Tuesday April 23rd, 2013 or be deregistered from their classes, disenfranchises them with having to find monies in short spans of time, as opposed to giving them until the second week of the upcoming Semester to find the monies. We shared that cutting the subvention will realistically be absorbed by the same individuals in different areas: a mother at the College suffering fee increases due to the subvention cut may evidently have to go to Social Services to receive aid, which shows money not being cut for savings, but being transferred for use in other departments of the government, which makes no sense. We shared that the entire Senior Administration of the College operates through failed leadership and that they need to be removed. The Minister listened attentively and shared, on different occasions, how he apologizes for the actions that took place at the House of Assembly for COB Students the prior Wednesday, how the subvention of the College was indeed being cut, how the power and authority to implement non-tuition fees rested with the College Council, and how he understood the present woes of the students at the College of the Bahamas.  

The action items decided from the meeting include, but are not limited to:

• The Minister of Education requesting the Council Chairman to meet with students by April 26th to hear and consider alternatives – (Status: meeting has not happened yet)

• The Minister of Education to inquire to the Council Chairman about details concerning the new fees by April 23rd to have feedback for meeting (Status: unknown)

• The Minister of Education to ask the Ministry of Finance to give Financial Aid money to COB since such has yet to be offered (so as to offset deregistration) etc.  (Status: unknown)

• The Minister of Education to revamp and streamline the Teachers’ Grant; which is currently in progress  

COBUS’ meeting with the Minister of State for Finance, the Hon. Michael Halkitis, on Friday April 26th, 2013, went on in a similar fashion. There, COBUS inquired of the Government’s priority and value to education, and the Minister noted that their government is fully committed to an accessible and free education for all. We inquired of the financials concerning COB’s budget, but the Minister noted that the Ministry of Finance only has the College’s fiscal allotment for the subvention, and not the budget, which is curious since the College told Union Stakeholders on April 5th that it would take its budget forward to the Ministry of Finance. We inquired of why the subvention of the College was being cut, and the Minister was resolute in his stance that the Ministry of Finance's intent is not to cut anyone’s subvention. A conversation ensued as to the College’s recently-implemented fee increases and if they would hinder access and degree completion of present and future students to the College of the Bahamas – COBUS reiterated that the issue concerning the fees were not only that some found difficulty in paying the extra fees, but more so because the fees were implemented in poor practice and process, that they were not justifiable or logical, and that they did not promise an improvement of services and resources at the College. The Minister of Finance recommended that COBUS indicate which students would be negatively impacted and requested said individuals be highlighted to them for assistance. The Minister was stunned to hear of the back log of services, resources, and audits currently held at the College of the Bahamas, and felt COBUS had a justifiable and accurate argument. However, they expressed their inability to do anything with the matter, and that anything else could only be enacted through the College Council.  

With a meeting affirmed by the Council Secretary for May 8th with the College Council, a Government who seems unable to act concerning this issue, a nation of people who prefer to speak rather than act accordingly, and an irresponsive Senior Administration and College Council, the College of the Bahamas Union of Students is disappointed and appalled at the reactions of said entities and bodies. COBUS of course will continue to dig for truth, which has been lacking in this entire process, as best as possible.