7 News Belize

UB Students Say They Will Boycotts Registration Over Increased Fees
posted (January 3, 2013)
Tomorrow is orientation and registration for over 500 new students at the University of Belize. They will have to pay a $150.00 registration fee, because the government - which used to pay it - has been forced to discontinue the subsidy.

The University's Student Government says the new students will have to pay $550.00 dollars in registration fees - where current students only pay about $185.00. For months the student government has been making the rounds to say the imposition of the fee on new students is unacceptable. But nothing has happened - and tomorrow is registration day. Today the President of the Student Government along with a former president and a fellow president held a press conference to say they will resist the new fee:

Hope Amadi
"Each student will be paying almost $360 additional per semester, where can we find that money. Tomorrow we have new students coming in for orientation and registration. We are not registering; I am not registering. If the fees remain the same way i am not registering and I am urging students that the fees should not increase show solidarity - do not register."

"Everybody keeps asking the same question over and over; Hope if the Minister doesn't change, what are you going to do, what are you guys going to do? Don't worry, our actions you will see but we won't say it and we better keep it that way."

Moses Sulph
"If the government, I may not quote him directly but if the government who is the entire entity of a country, who has all the resources at hand cannot afford this increase to continue - how will it then be able for poor people who are making $175 per week to afford this increase."

Hope Amadi
"14% Unemployment rate in the country, almost 45% poverty rate in the country - what do you want more? Do you want to make everybody beg? We cannot go on the streets and start begging."

Moses Sulph
"We are not basically trying to in any way have a fight with the Minister of Education. We are basically appealing to his heart to his inner person to his conscience to do what is right for the people of this country - the students of this country."

Hope Amadi
"Hon. Faber, please, I am pleading to you; if I may use that: on behalf of the students. Remember what you promise; you said that the University of Belize deserves more. This is the time to show that you really care for the students."

Moses Sulph
"We have 4% of our population that is educated on the tertiary level and that is the lowest according to the United Nations report on education in 2008 in the entire region of the Caribbean and Central America."

Micah Goodin
"For every young person that is not allowed a fair opportunity to attain an education I hold you responsible and if you are tired of being held responsible then roll over and make space for someone who is more competent, determined, honest and hardworking."

Amadi says he has signed petitions from students. Again, returning students do not have to pay the new fee.

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