Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
Guyanese Hugh Wooding Law students complain of discrimination
Attorney General, Basil Willliams (centre)
flanked by Guyanese students currently
attending Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS)
Twenty-five of the 27 Guyanese students currently attending the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago, have raised several issues and concerns in relation to tuition, discrimination and disadvantages faced in pursuit of their Legal Education Certificate at the overseas-based institution.
The students raised the issue about their education during a visit to Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, (AG) Basil Williams.
During the visit, Secretary to the group, Sherry Hewitt, raised the issue of fee payment with the Attorney General, while other students raised concerns of immigration, course content and lateness of the Guyana students’ list to the Trinidad Immigration.
The number one issue, the students noted, however, is the tuition fees which amounts to TT$65,792, (G$2.2 million or USD$11,000 per student.) Kaieteur News understands that the students are now required to pay the full tuition at the beginning of the September semester each year as opposed to 50 per cent in September and 50 per cent in January of the following year.
According to the information, the Law students also requested help from the Attorney General to address the courses of Family Practice and Procedure, Legal Drafting and Interpretation for the second year law students in relation to the unique Roman Dutch system of land titling in Guyana as opposed to Trinidad laws.
These two courses have a high percentage of failure hence, the students desire a tutor who has knowledge of Guyana’s laws.
The issue of immigration was also highlighted, because students were turned back by the Trinidad immigration due to the late submission of Guyana students list to Trinidad.
In response to the concerns, the Attorney General gave a commitment to address the course content issue with Mr. Sheldon Mc Donald at the University of Guyana.
He also shared with the students how different it was when he studied at the HWLS. Williams empathized with the students and promised to explore the help they needed to address the issue of fee payments and the accommodation of more Guyanese students, since the top 25 students are selected out of a total of 80.
The students therefore explained that the issue is not one of space since six Trinidadian students were placed in the Guyanese class after the academic year had commenced.
In addition, the students requested scholarships for their final year with the understanding that they would serve for a contracted period. Of the 27 currently attending the HWLS only one is the recipient of a Public Service Ministry scholarship.
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