Obstacles to GATE access

PRIYA RAMKISSOON

I WRITE this article with an immense sense of disappointment and profound frustration regarding the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme. As a concerned citizen, I feel compelled to express my dismay at the way students are treated during the application process and how deserving candidates are unjustly denied access to this vital educational support.

It is with a heavy heart that I observe the numerous hurdles and unnecessary obstacles placed in the path of our ambitious and hard-working students when they seek to avail themselves of the GATE programme. These students, our nation's future, deserve the right to quality education, unencumbered by the bureaucratic red tape that seems to plague the system.

As taxpayers, we contribute dutifully to the development and betterment of our country. We expect and demand that our tax dollars be utilised effectively to provide proper access to the GATE programme for our youths. Yet, the reality we face is a heartbreaking paradox. A First World country like America can readily extend aid to non-US citizens while our own deserving students struggle to secure support within our own borders.

The application process has become an unnecessarily tedious and soul-crushing experience for our students. The barrage of irrelevant and intrusive questions only serves to exacerbate the distress and anxiety they already face. It is disheartening to witness a system that should encourage and empower our youth instead subjecting them to such demeaning treatment.

Moreover, I cannot comprehend why there is so much resistance and hesitation in providing financial assistance when students commit to giving back to the country after their education. Repayment is a fair and responsible approach, and it is disappointing that it is met with such resistance.

My son, like many others, now finds himself in a state of uncertainty, unsure if he can continue his education due to the unpredictable funding situation. He was granted support for a while, but the threat of discontinuation looms over his future. This lack of stability and support leaves him disillusioned and disheartened.

I am deeply troubled and perplexed by the deteriorating state of the GATE programme and the apparent decline in its efficacy. Who is running GATE? Why are students facing a harder time now compared to years before? What has gone wrong with TT as a society? We should be advancing, yet we seem to be regressing when it comes to supporting the education of our youth.

The lack of responsiveness from the GATE office is yet another cause for alarm. Why should I need to call the office more than 40 times just to get a response? Are there no dedicated personnel available throughout the workweek? This level of inefficiency and disregard for the public's concerns is truly disheartening.

I cannot help but wonder, are our youths being pushed towards crime and a bleak future devoid of education? What kind of society are we building for our children if we fail to invest adequately in their education and well-being?

In conclusion, I urge the heads of the GATE programme to address these pressing issues immediately. Our students deserve better, and concerned citizens demand transparency, efficiency and fairness in the administration of this critical educational support system.

We must remember that the strength and prosperity of our nation lie in the education and empowerment of our youth. Let us work together to build a future where every deserving student can access the education they need to contribute positively to our society.

PRIYA RAMKISSOON

via e-mail