Committee should choose scholars

THE EDITOR: I noticed Maha Sabha leader Sat Maharaj has agreed with the announcement by Education Minister Anthony Garcia that a committee should decide on the awarding of CAPE scholarships.

This direction by Government is strategic and should be implemented quickly since the present system of awarding scholarships mainly on academic performance is saturating the job market with many unwanted skills. Many scholars are also forced to settle for employment outside of their areas of study.

I know of the Manpower Research Committee referred to by Mr Sat Maharaj, and under that old system there was a fair distribution of scholarships. It was their job to find out how many mathematicians, doctors and scientists were needed based on developmental agenda of government.

I was surprised Congress of the People leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan disagreed with Minister Garcia when he first announced the return of this committee. Ms Bachan, a former minister of Public Administration, was once responsible for the awarding of scholarships. She must know that the old method of awarding scholarships would only produce more frustrated graduates who cannot find suitable employment after their course of study.

Jairam Singh, Tunapuna