Government grant to Law Students would be a wise investment

Aug 14, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
I write on the ongoing fees increase issue at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) and the inability of students entering into the final year of study to pay the fees due to the 38% increase.
I had much contemplation about the various proposals and thought of how the scales could be balanced, how students can assist in a meaningful way in the development of this nation in return for the government’s support. I understand the government’s position that funding is an issue. But I also know that in certain situations the government would fork out money to do projects or make a payment of some kind or the other.
All governments recognise that education of its citizens is necessary for the development of a nation. This government is striving to bring about a change in this beautiful nation of ours, which I welcome. However, positive changes will take place only when we have an educated work force and more so professionals. The children of this soil are making tremendous sacrifices to educate themselves in a foreign land. We cannot imagine the hardships some of them go through. They will make meaningful contributions for the development of Guyana.
I must commend the Hon. Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams for making representations on behalf of these students and for setting up a committee to consider the viability of a local law school. While this is all well and good, a local law school is the long term solution. The current situation begs for a speedy resolution to deal with the students who will be affected for the academic year 2015/2016.
For years this sector has been starved of assistance from the government. Can we not ‘band our belly’ and assist our students? These are the very students that make us proud when they top the region be it at the CXC level or at HWLS or any other institution.
There were recent revelations about millions and in some cases billions of dollars being discovered in unused bank accounts.
I am of the view that the Government should and ought to assist at least the current students if not with all, with half of the tuition fees or alternatively, make the contribution to the school to offset the economic costs. We cannot allow their education to end prematurely. The expenditure can be included the National Budget for August 10th so that there can be no excuse that it was not budgeted for.
Students who will benefit from such intervention from the state will obviously be required to provide their services to the government in return.
How will this be of benefit to the government? These students can be assigned to judges and magistrates as their Judicial Research Assistants when they would have completed their legal education. This in turn will speed up the process of the administration of justice since the judges will be better able to deliver their decision in matters more readily and have more time to deal with the backlog of matters in the slothful judiciary.
Further, there were reports that each ministry/agency will be equipped with a legal department/officer. These young legal minds again can be assigned to these agencies to work for the government in return.
In the worst case scenario, if the government were to assist each of the current students at the HWLS with half of the tuition fees, it will only cost them approximately $M36. This is in the event the entire batch is considered.
It is my fervent hope that these students will see the completion of their legal education and not be left standing alone at this juncture of their journey. I appeal to the government to seriously consider this option and to do what a government would do when their citizens are in need of them.
Concerned citizen

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