The Tribune

THE College of the Bahamas Union of Students intends to present the College Council with the findings of its survey into how students feel about the recommended tuition increase in wake of government’s cut to COB funding.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, COBUS president Ernesto Williams said the survey, which is targeting responses from at least 1,000 students, will “inform the College Council of what the students feel about the recommended tuition increase”.

“It is also to enlighten the College Council as to the demographics of students at the College of the Bahamas and what they face in just becoming a student, and to provide some other solutions and suggestions for them to consider.”

The survey, which received up to 170 responses in 24 hours since its launch on Saturday, features 10 questions concerning age, gender, income, how tuition is paid, and free response questions about the proposed tuition increase, and suggestions for other ways the college might raise revenue without increasing tuition.

Mr Williams and COBUS claims that the senior administration of the college has yet to “present factual evidence as to why they prefer their recommendations to incur the cut”.

“Our issue is that everyone’s focus seems to be off. If College students and professors can suggest alternative measures for revenue generation and expenditure-saving that could do wonders for the College, why are you raising tuition?”

“There are other avenues, and until the College is ready to raise tuition – which will be upon its transition to University – why are you walking out of line?”

He said the same question should be asked of the governing administration.
“The same with the government – slash and burn economics is not beneficial for small, developing nations – there is a completely different economic structure, population, and fiscal system in place with the United States than the Bahamas cutting across the board is not a good choice.”