00:00 Come August of this year, students pursuing their Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
00:04 degree at the University of the West Indies campuses at Mona, Jamaica and Cave Hill, Barbados
00:11 can breathe a bit easier where expenses are concerned.
00:14 They would now have the opportunity to have their tuition fees covered by the GATE program
00:18 in full, similar to what their counterparts at the St. Augustine campus have access to.
00:25 Education Minister Dr. Nian Gadsby-Dawley is providing clarity.
00:29 Students in St. Augustine can access the total cost for tuition based on their qualifications
00:37 via the means test.
00:39 And so what we're doing now is extending that to both Cave Hill and Mona, Jamaica.
00:45 So that instead of getting 100% of what they would have gotten in St. Augustine, they're
00:51 going to get 100% of the tuition that is in Cave Hill and Mona.
00:57 The minister says there is already a disparity in the bill these students have to foot when
01:01 studying at the regional campuses.
01:03 There are significantly higher rates for medical studies in Cave Hill and in Mona.
01:11 So that will afford the students the benefit of, if they're receiving 100% GATE, getting
01:17 all of their tuition covered at those campuses.
01:20 According to a release from the Ministry of Education, the move was taken as a means of
01:25 providing students with the opportunity to reach their highest potential and to support
01:30 the national workforce development.
01:32 The MBBS program spans five years, three preclinical and two clinical, followed by a compulsory
01:39 one-year internship in order to receive certification by the Medical Council and complete registration
01:45 to practice medicine.
01:46 After the completion of a GATE program, graduands are required to inform the ministry and accept
01:52 employment in this country.
01:54 If not, the fees paid for them can be converted to a recoverable debt.
01:59 In response to a question from TV6 News on if the obligations would be altered, Dr. Gadsby-Daly
02:05 says no, they will apply and can be enforced should a government be minded to do so.
02:11 In terms of obligatory service, up to $50,000, it's one-year service.
02:17 Up to $100,000, two years.
02:20 Up to $150,000, three years.
02:23 Up to $200,000, four years.
02:26 And over $200,000, five years.
02:28 Based on a UBC campus fee booklet, the annual tuition fee for MBBS students is $142,000.
02:38 The education ministry says, quote, "The budgetary allocation under the GATE program, which was
02:42 established in 2004, is currently valued at $400 million per fiscal year and represents
02:51 an investment in the development of current and future generations of Trinidad and Tobago
02:56 nationals.
02:57 GATE has been and continues to be a critical asset, making tertiary education more accessible
03:03 to our young people.
03:05 This has had a positive impact on the economic and social development of Trinidad and Tobago
03:10 and the achievement of the goals and objectives of Vision 2030."
03:16 Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
03:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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