Illustrating the power of youths to raise their voices against issues affecting them, students from several private institutions have taken a stand against 14 per cent VAT levied on private education. Advancing the movement against the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education are students from the School of the Nations, with the support of the school’s management.
Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, student of the Nations’ Sixth Form and active youth protester against this levy Othniel Lewis said VAT on the school fees has caused a “stir” among private school students.
Nations’ Sixth Form is known for providing the Cambridge University Examinations- better known as ‘A’ Levels. This is an examination not provided by the sixth forms of Government schools; instead, the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) is offered.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that the school fees for the Nations Sixth Form are charged yearly and per subject.
For a student paying $100,000 (an average amount, figures may vary) per subject annually, will now have to pay an additional $14,000 due to the imposition of VAT.
For a student who is taking classes for three subjects, an additional $42,000 will be added to the already steep yearly fee of $300,000.
Nevertheless, these figures are only for the sixth form. There are other levels of private education being offered by this institution and other such private institutions.
School of the Nations Director, Dr Brian O’Toole, in a letter to the press, criticised the implementation of VAT on private education.

However, he and many other students of the institution realised that there was more work to be done.
An ad hoc student council was formed and the students launched a national petition against the imposition of the 14 per cent VAT on private education.
Additionally the council has engaged with other schools (both private and public) and other agencies and organisations to reverse this imposition.
The petition was initially an online petition, but now the students have set up a small booth at the Giftland Mall, mostly on weekends, to spread awareness and gain wide public support against VAT on private education.
The online petition has been gaining support and thus far it has obtained some 3,645 signatures.
Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday said the petition against the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) on education is engaging the attention of Cabinet.
Following the removal of the zero-rated items in the 2017 budget, private institutions are now required to pay 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) effective from February 1, 2017. However, some private institutions which fall under the category of “Charter Schools” are not required to pay this levy.