PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad Government identified TT$ 352 million to provide free tertiary tuition from January 1, 2006, via an improved Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) program.
Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education (STTE), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid outlined the improvements at a press conference held at his St. James office on January 4.
He said free tuition would now be available to Trinidad and Tobago nationals pursuing undergraduate programs, including distance-learning programs.
Minister Abdul-Hamid said students receiving tuition grants would have to sign an agreement to work locally for between one to five years depending on the quantity of the grant.
Grants would be available for students attending the following local and regional public tertiary institutions:
Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies
Corinth Teachers’ College
College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT)
Hugh Wooding Law School
Metal Industries Co. Ltd.
National Energy Skills Centre
Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica
Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute (TTHTI)
University of Trinidad and Tobago
University of the West Indies (Trinidad, Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica)
Undergraduates at approved private tertiary institutions will also have access to the program. This however will be subject to Memoranda of Understanding between the individual private institutions and the Ministry of STTE.
Postgraduate students attending local and regional public tertiary institutions are now eligible for GATE grants covering 50% of their tuition. Those attending private tertiary institutions can access 50% of tuition up to a maximum of TT$ 10,000 per year.
Additionally Government will increase from 25 to 50, scholarships awards to the medical faculty of the St. George’s University, Grenada.
For persons studying at other foreign institutions a tax allowance of $TT 18,000 per taxpayer has been maintained, Minister Abdul-Hamid said.
