– law students welcome easing of financial burden
By Gabriella Chapman
IN light of the announcement that government is offering scholarships to law students, many eligible beneficiaries are overly excited.
For years, Guyanese students have been lamenting about the high tuition cost at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, which is mandatory to attend to acquire their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) to practise.
Engaging some of the prospective students, several expressed sentiments of joy at the new announcement, but in the same breath, had a few concerns and recommendations.
Niomi Alsopp said she was really happy when she first saw the advertisement in the newspaper, as it came as a great relief to her.
Alsopp recently completed a bachelor’s of laws programme at the University of Guyana (UG).
“I was studying all along how I’d be able to pay for Hugh Wooding. Then this announcement was made in the newspaper and it would definitely benefit me. This gesture is very good for us who really need it.”
However, although Alsopp is happy, she also is concerned what will become if she does not have the minimum GPA. All results are not in, so most of the students at this point, are unaware of whether or not they would have made the top 25 students to gain entry into the Trinidadian law school.
To this end, Alsopp said she would hope that the government can add a waiver, so as to be able to facilitate other students.
Melissa Adolphus, who also recently completed her bachelor’s of laws programme at UG, said she was overwhelmed and ecstatic when she woke up to the news on Sunday morning.
BURDENSOME
Adolphus pointed out that Guyanese students are at a particular disadvantage and have to contend with limited space at Hugh Wooding, given the fact that Guyana is listed as a non-contributing State. This only results in very expensive tuition, which she said is very burdensome on Guyanese.
This move of the government, she noted is happening for the first time in history, and their efforts to alleviate issues are highly commendable.
Nonetheless, Adolphus believes a local law school would do better for Guyanese students. “The law school would be beneficial to a plurality of persons, because those students falling short of the required GPA slightly would be at a disadvantage with the scholarship.”
Akeeta Kingston, a student who graduated since 2016, and to date has not been able to attend Hugh Wooding, is also very excited.
Kingston would have later obtained a master’s of laws, but still could not practice because of the absence of the LEC on her resume.
She told this newspaper that she will be writing the entrance exam to Hugh Wooding next year, with hopes that the scholarship will continue to be extended in the coming years.
Even though some are excited, this new agreement still does not include many of the current Guyanese students at Hugh Wooding and many others who completed the bachelor’s of laws programme.
President of the Guyana Jurisdiction Committee at Hugh Wooding Law School, Cassandra Forde, said she is grateful the government is making an intervention. Her main issue, however, is the amount of people who would be able to benefit.
“Everybody’s parents have to find the same amount of money to pay our tuition, accommodation and everything else. We are all burned. Why give relief to just a few?” Forde posited.
She explained that the eligibility for current Hugh Wooding students is that they have to have passes in the first year, with at least three As.
TOUGH
Forde noted that the programme is already tough as it is, and the financial burden they carry as well as other contributing factors, three As is a tough challenge. She, however, said that students are still doing well with Bs, and the application of theory in the practical classes.
Those students will be totally shunned as no part of the scholarship caters to them.
To this end, Forde said she would recommend that the government strengthen on the subsidy they have already committed to paying.
“The government pays a subsidy of 25 per cent of the economic cost, which is really not a great relief. They should increase the subsidy and make it accessible to all Guyanese students because we all share the same burden. They already have an initiative running, let that work and make it better and more efficient,” she suggested.
Another concern of the students is that if they do not make the top 25 at UG, their acceptance at Hugh Wooding becomes very difficult. If no acceptance into Hugh Wooding, they cannot pursue their LEC. This is a major issue for the students.
But Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams told reporters on Tuesday that despite the setbacks and pushbacks, with the incoming oil to Guyana, the law school will follow.
Minister Williams said it has always been his vision to establish a law school here but his attempts to do so since taking office in 2015 have been met with major objections from former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, and the Council of Legal Education (CLE).
He, however, will remain steadfast to his vision and promise, that Guyana will have its own law school. In the interim, the government will make contributions in whatever way it can afford, in efforts to ease the burden on students.