Students warned make grade
(CNS): In a number of statements made to the Legislative Assembly this week the minister with responsibility for education has warned students that they will no longer be awarded scholarships and certificates unless they make the grade. Talking about what he said were poor standards in higher education, Rolston Anglin said that while government was committed to the development of human capital as demonstrated by the record $10 million set aside for scholarships in the budget, it was determined to improve standards at UCCI and ensure that those receiving scholarships maintained their grades.
“Students are graduating with degrees that barely make the grade. The government must act decisively and swiftly in order to raise standards,” he said, adding that graduates were finding it difficult to get work because of poor performance in university.
He said that a review had now been completed of the scholarship system but as the finished report was some five months later than planned it was too late to implement all of its recommendations during this current round of scholarship awards. However, he said two new staff members had been recruited into the secretariat to monitor the performance of students on scholarships both overseas and at UCCI.
He said he would also be implementing new eligibility criteria so all future scholarship applications would be sent to the Education Council and they would no longer be awarded based on acceptance to an institution, as has been the case in the past. He announced changes to the funding of A’ levels, which he said were disproportionately expensive, and said the government would begin offering both the International Baccalaureate and the new Advance Placement programmes at a fraction of the cost of ‘A’ levels at Cayman Prep and St Ignatius.
The report and draft guidelines currently being drawn up by the Education Council regarding scholarships and changes to higher education would be circulated for public consultation, the minster said, before policy changes would be made.
Anglin also noted that he intended to improve standards at UCCI as simply stamping applications and putting people in lecture halls was not good enough; qualifications had to be real.
“It is unacceptable for employers to find graduates of UCCI who cannot do what their certificates and degrees document they should clearly be able to do,” the minister told his parliamentary colleagues. “There will be no games played on my watch where we hand out diplomas just because a student showed up for class … the certificates and diplomas that are awarded must make sense for our economy.”
He noted that there was no point in running a fashion design course unless we had a fashion industry and that the country had not coordinated its industry skill needs with its skill development. “UCCI must remain focused on the skills and practical competences that the workforce needs.”
The minster said government had to ensure that the people were skilled enough to compete on an equal footing with their piers in the global workforce. “We must have a broader segment of our society participate at higher levels in our economy,” he added.
Anglin warned that good jobs for the people of Cayman could not just mean working for the civil service. “For one thing the civil service cannot afford to employ all Caymanians,” he said, pointing to the need to supply the private sector with qualified people and to create the entrepreneurs of the future.
Category: Headline News
I applaud Rolsten for his straight forward comments but I would have to take a real close look at the numbers behind his statements that the government run IB and AP programs will be delivered more cheaply than the high quality programs at St. Ignatius and Cayman Prep. Those organizations provide great value and we know, deliver excellent education at a fraction of the cost of the government schools.
The Minister has not only presented himself in a poor light by using UCCI as a political football in his haste to belittle the opposition, but he is on very shaky ground in substance.
As many of the posters have observed, one of the largest pieces in the eductional gijsaw is the individual and how he or she applies or does not apply him or herself.
I went to an ivy league university in the US (14 years ago, the 18 months cost US$80,000. Today it is likely topping $100,000). And those of us on the course had the view that there were not just one or two who should not really have been there. Not only did they not appear to have the necessary foundation, but they were not knocking themselves out to do what they should be doing. Somehow they got by and graduated.
One professor plainly said that not every graduate of the university would measure up to the high standards one would expect.
That is simply a fact of life.
It is futile to expect that UCCI will be some cookie cutter and that all outputs will fit the model of expectations.
And, even at that aforementiond ivy league university, neither did all the professors measure up to expecttions.
In the final analysis, it is who the graduate is that is going to make the most difference.
Not that we should ignore deficiencies. UCCI, as a fledgling university, has some growing pains to do. I am sure they will be the first to voice that.
But do not put them on the chopping block without putting everything in perspective, and do not knock around an institution with whose growth you are charged.
Public perceptions are everything, Mr. Minister; take the statesman role when you speak about your charges in public, and flog them in private.
So let us not jump on the band wagon because we may have something to benefit from the Minister’s words.
Let us, instead, urge the Minister to put his brightest ideas to work to help to bring forth the best from UCCI — not to tear it down for his own political ends.
Because every single one of us will be the losers if he does not. And we will be watching and listening for those bright ideas and their implementation.
The most articulate and accurate post on this subject to date.
Reminds me of the saying, "Put your future in good hands – your own."
Pity you couldn’t/didn’t divulge your identity!
Shame the post just does not pass the "smell test" isn’t it?
Was that ivy league in the CNS poster sense of ivy league or Ivy League?
You see, I don’t believe any Ivy Leaguer would not capitalise the words "Ivy League" or would ever say "ivy league university in the US" since they are definitionally in the north-eastern US.
It is all part of the "eductional gijsaw" apparently. That is an "ivy league" education for you.
Wow! How brilliant! Reminds me of the saying, "Great Minds Discuss Ideas; Average Minds Discuss Events; Small Minds Discuss People."
From reading these CNS comments, I think we really need to amend this to "Small Minds Discuss Spelling and People."
As a real Ivy League graduate, as opposed to a fictional one, I was simply pointing out that the post simply did not pass the "smell test".
So, Minister Anglin, lets take stock of what we have;
ICCI – Not even going to bother
UCCI – A dumping ground for those who can’t even pass five GCSE’s
St Matthew’s – Where wannabe Med students who couldn’t get in to a real Med School come to graze.
For those below, yes UT was dropped, it may have been picked back up since, but it was dropped and remains little more than a second rate tertiary education establishment at best
I did nothing to get my degree, true, at least I’m smart enough to recognise that.
Lest you forget the butt of the legal fraternity’s jokes that is the Cayman Islands Law School
I find your comments to absolutely insulting to the fine staff and faculty of the CILS. I know many of the professors there personally and hold not only their credentials, but the quality of the students they produce in the highest esteem…your comment smacks of sour grapes…
I was enrolled in Cayman’s public school system. Some have commented that the education in Cayman is poor but I believe you make it what you want. I’m currently attending university in Canada where I have an above average GPA and have never failed a course (knock on wood). I had the support of some amazing teachers when I was a student at JGHS (Mr. Shillito, Mr. Francis, Mr. Clarke etc). I did well because I wanted to.
I attended UCCI evening classes after high school while I worked to save up some money and gain work experience. I will be blunt and say that in comparison to my current University, the work load at UCCI is a bit of a joke. I literally live at the library here whereas in Cayman I would do my assignments on my lunch hour. That being said, I didn’t breeze through the courses at UCCI with top grades. More importantly, and what matters, is that I don’t feel l was less prepared when I transferred over. The only area in which I struggled was in Calculus. Most kids studied it in their high school curriculum but I never learned it in detail. I guess I should probably say too that math is my least favourite subject. Math for Commerce (first year course) was by far my most challenging class. Isn’t that funny? You would assume it would have been a course related to finance, economics or strategy etc. It was a struggle but I did pass somewhere in the60 percentile, I believe. Aside from this particular one, I was never confused or at a loss in any other university course. I contribute this my previous studies in Cayman.
I agree that UCCI needs a review in terms of course load and depth of content and knowledge. In addition, class participation should account for more of one’s overall grade to encourage students to become more involved. Furthermore, students need to be more informed of the requirements to qualify at other universities should they want to transfer over. For example, international students need a 3.0 to be let in to my respective program.
However, to imply that a degree from our local institution is of zero value is ignorant. An education is what you make it. If you want to learn, then you will. If you want to walk away with something of value, then you will. If you strive to excel, you will. I know some bright minds who graduated from UCCI. Their degrees and certificates weren’t just given to them, they were deserved.
Stop criticizing the Caymanian educational system. I have shocking news for you, some of you don’t have the quality of edeucation you claim to have, what you have is luck on your side, and a smart Caymanianian to train most incoming work permit holders claiming to have a degree, they have an advantage over you with that claim, but when you really check it out many of them don’t even have a high school diploma!
At least the Cayman Islands is raising the standard, and can raise our heads high. Here’s some shocking news and a wake up call for all you snobs.
Did you know that the colleges and Universities charging an arm and a leg claiming to educate your children are nothing but a farce? As a matter of fact the Ivy League colleges refuse to test their outgoing graduates. The reason for not testing,fear of embarasment.!
Reports and statistics show that STUDENTS BEING ENROLLED TO HARVARD PRINCETON AND YALE, ARE SCORING ‘HIGHER’ than those graduating !!! very troubling indeed. Why go there then?
The Alumni’s are paying for the "Sophisticated Name" not for quality of Education, that has long ago been relocated to India and China.
India is No. 1 on Math and Science. Most of the Scientists are indians and Chinese.
America is No. 25 in Math and Science !!!!!, Whatever you do please don’t adapt their educational policies, they have so many failing schools its a disaster.
Cayman keep up the good works. I congratulate you..
As a parent of a student that attended UCCI, I can only say that my child benefited tremendously from its two-year Associates degree course and is now excelling at a notable American University. UCCI not only prepared her for overseas education but also gave her the opportunity to ‘grow-up’ on home turf and find her wings. Furthermore I am firmly of the opinion that NO student on a government scholarship should be given money to study overseas for Associate degrees when we have a very capable local college that can put them on the right path. Furthermore, it weeds out those that can’t cut it! Why on earth should the CI Government pay those exorbitant overseas college fees for an Associates course when we can manage quite nicely here? I am not opposed to Government sponsorship for students attending overseas institutions for Bachelors or Masters programmes, as overseas study has many added benefits not available in Cayman, not least of which is the chance to become more independent and worldly and make friends that last a lifetime. Iam really saddened at all this bad press being given to UCCI. The faculty there must shocked, angered and deflated.
The truth is (whether we like to admit it or not), is that a degree from UCCI does not carry much weight in theCayman Islands . Degree holders who posses a BS from UCCI, and say a BS from an international accredited university such as UM, with not have an edge. I would encourage young Caymanians to get an education over seas if possible. There are plenty of scholarshipsbeing offered, and many of them do not have particularly high requirements. It just takes a bit of time, patience, and motivation to obtain one (assuming you have at least decent grades). Employers like to see that not only do you have a degree that carries weight, but have also had some international exposure. This suggests that the person has the ability to adapt to new environments and pick up skills which otherwise, one would not have. I transferred from UCCI to a university in Florida
Everything I have read seems to be based on pure fallacies. Where is all the evidence to support his claims? As a student who attended UCCI, I am appalled by what has been said. Some of it being true and other statements being completely false. Every institution has its slackers but UCCI has some very intelligent individuals whom of which were people I knew and were getting 4.0’s. Also whilst attending UCCI I had some very influential teachers who have made a big impact on my life. For all you adults who are bashing the school without setting foot or looking at UCCI’s records, I suggest you keep quiet because you do not know what is going on and are relying on other people’s opinions. UCCI was a good stepping stone in my life and now I attend University overseas where I have a 3.75 GPA, so what does that say about UCCI?
After doing a 4 year degree course in the UK, I decided to change my career path and chose the accounting route. As I was back living & working in Cayman, I chose to study at UCCI. As someone who has been there, I have to say that the quality of teaching is not all that bad but is not all that great either.
The problem at UCCI is that as it is the only higher educational establishment, they seem to let everyone in. A lot of students there are there because they have to be not because they want to be and for that reason, they talk throughout the lessons and distract the rest. The staff don’t seem to be able to control them. I remember in the days when I was at junior school here and if you were talkig and disruptiong the class – you would be sent out.
The fact that you are overseas and are maintaining a 3.75 GPA has nothing to do with UCCI – that is to do with you so keep it up, but do not be mistaken that UCCI is a good trainging facility as it is not.
What does that say about UCCI? It says that it is a good stepping stone. And that is it.
Congrats Minister Rolston! This should have been the Government position 20 years ago and we would not have the work permit/rollover situation that we have now.
Caymanians wake up. If you want to control your country and your destiny, get an education or trade. Go as far as you can. And just because you are Caymanian, does not mean you have any “get out of jail” card.
Study, hard work will do it. And thanks Minister Rolston for saying what might be unpopular but the correct thing for Cayman’s future.
You are correct in congratulating Rolston for his stance on the lack of graduating requirements for the high schools but he is absolutely wrong in targetting UCCI and giving the wrong and damaging impressions in the way that he did. Students who do not make the grade should not be granted further scholarships by his ministry, yes, but do not imply that the university is graduating persons who have not passed their exams. That is untrue and only stands to undermine the good name of the university and give employers who are already reluctant to hire Caymanians another stick to beat us over the heads with. He needs to get his facts straight before he speaks.
I suggest you get your facts straight …the Sayid/UCCI fiasco was covered up… Because he wanted to be a hero he passed students that did not earn the passing grade , all so he would look good and be popular amongst the elite…When he left the truth was discovered and buried, note all the prominent Caymanians leaving the board of UCCI around about this time…The Minister is only saying what has been public knowledge for some time…The truth at times is hard to see, this does not reflect on the students in any way, it is a shortfall in UCCI and Governments oversight of education…
Sayed is no longer there! That imposter made a joke of the university, yes, however, now that Roy Bodden is there YOU need to get your facts straight. Mr. Bodden has and continues to do much to improve the school. People like you will always hold onto the negativity and cry foul when it isn’t.
People like me – what a negative comment…I have inside information right to the top on UCCI goings on and Government’s handling of it, guess you don’t have the facts so I cant blame you for ignorance…
The UCCI has long been known as a laughing stock and most employers simply ignore any qualifications that a job candidate claims to have achieved there and simply base their qualifications on anything that can be verifiable but most of all trusted. Unfortunately for Caymanians this means people that have studied overseas at reputable colleges.
If HR are reviewing a CV that said the candidate had achieved so and so at UCCI, then that’s going straight in the bin. The reputation is so bad because so many people are leaving there with qualifications they are not deserving of.
Those truly educated Caymanians that went to UCCI and genuinely passed the courses must be very angry that others are doing nothing for 2 years and still strolling out with certificates. The education department and thse responsible is letting down the few genuine hard working caymanians by making a mockery of the UCCI and tarring all the students with the same brush.
Whilst students are leaving UCCI with certificates in bumming around for 2 years but that cannot read andwrite, cannot apply themselves at work and have next to no knowledge of the subjects they have studied, people will continue to not take them seriously.
Here Mr. Anglin is your unsolicited advice; doing the right thing and going about good works need no shouting for people to notice, belittling others cast an unfavorable light on you as well. If you see something you “can” do, something your are “supposed” to do even if it is cleaning up somebody else’s mess, you do not need to shout out the distaste you have or toot your own horn, let your actions speak for them-self, then you will earn the respect you seek. There is much to be said of pride, much to lose if you harbor it.
It is not a perfect institution and yes much needs to change… but Minister please double check your facts as regards the scholarships and UCCI allowing students a free pass…
1. My child passed all their tests and course work but was failed from the course as they did not attend enough classes. (They works shift & sometime it was not possible to be there, but that is part of the requirement that they were physically accounted for a certain number of classes.) No free pass…
2. They were also disqualified from getting further scholarships till the GPA is brought back to standard. They had their chance, No free pass.
I must say you are however right about SOME of the teachers; my QBE would be a giant upgrade to their qualifications. I have witnessed first hand how people were just approached "off of the street" or out of a present class there to teach. That is scary, so Yeah, please take a closer check on who are teaching our kids.
I dont think UCCI is handing out papers to those that dont pass. However it is possible to pass college courses and still not fully understand the course. If the pass mark is set at 50% and you get 51% you pass but that is still 49% that you did not know.
I went to UCCI for a few courses and I saw students there that was going through the motions. I often asked myself if these kids realized that their parents or someone was paying for them. Some would argue that the money was being wasted.
What is needed is a strict monitoring system whereby students are held accountable not just to pass courses but to go above and beyond. A scholarship should not be just to pass but you have to maintain a certain grade point average which should be set fairly high.
So sorry to say, but the private sector is getting very scanty as the professionals and the millionaires who had good businesses have and still leaving. I am much afraid that our children will have to look work overseas.
With the low requirements which are required to pass most of the classes (and the entire degree in general), they might as well just hand out diplomas to everyone. This is partly why Caymanians are graduating from there and not finding jobs, because employers know that they aren’t leaving with the skills which a degree of that nature should indicate you have. Being able to skip so many classes without penalty, passing classes with a grade of 55% etc…are all reasons why the value of a degree from there is virtually worthless. Do not attempt to move to a country outside of Cayman and expect that degree to pull weight anywhere else. I promise you it won’t.
Rolston Anglin owes an apology to the President and every student of UCCI. Having been a student of that institution I can say categorically that what was implied by Rolston is inaccurate and misleading, in my opinion. I for sure am unaware of any student being allowed to graduate who did not earn the grade to do so. As minister for education he should take more care before uttering such statements which could in fact negatively impact the reputation of a hard working student body and faculty. Keep up the good work UCCI and keep your heads high, despite such discouraging and potentially distructive comments.
Oh, dear, we just got rid of Alden and his giant experimental empire building foolishness, now Rolston continuing with outlandish and rash statements such as this. Yes, we all want to see higher standards in education, but please be considered in what you say, something we have been seriously lacking since Roy was the minister. And yes, it’s all very "exciting", but it’s not a show, it’s a serious matter calling for serious people who will take council from practiced educators, something sadly lacking certainly under Alden, whose self-promotional buffoonery did such damage to our education system. Rolston, forget the excitement, and consider the integrity and impact of your public utterances a lot more from now on. And if you are unable to access good advice from within your ministry, look for it elsewhere. All the best, but keep the adamant tone in check, it can make you appear rather amateurish.
It is a no brainer for all Caymanian students to move to the UK for six months and qualify for UK student fees – the education is far cheaper and much better value for money compared with the relatively poor quality of Florida tertiary education. The Government is not applying resources efficiently by funding American tertiary education for Caymanians.
Unless I’m mistaken Caymanians qualify for UK home students fees (one third of the oversea student fees) without needing to be resident there for any length of time, an arrangement agreed a number of years ago as I recall.
Amusingly they do qualify for UK home students fees , where as British expats living in Cayman do not.
Adam Smith, you don’t need to move to the UK for six months to get the UK fee rate. Caymanian students get it by virtue of being Overseas Territory citizens. Very few take advantage of this – to some extent through ignorance about it but also the weather there and the general anti-UK sentiments so strong in Cayman nowadays.
The government should not handed out large US scholarships to pander to ignorance or prejudice.
If Caymanians don’t need 6 months residence (I thought they did) then the Government is simply not getting value for money by funding US scholarships and should only provide funding for UK institutions.
Why the UCCI bashing. My neice went to UCCI and graduated with a very high GPA and has gone on to the University of Tampa where she is maintaining a very high GPA on her way to a bachelors degree. If UCCI’s standard is so low and terrible it is hardly likely that students like her would be able to transition to an american university and do as well as she is doing.
Precisely. Rolston, please take note!
There is a real university in Tampa?
Yes. Would LOVE to see some of these UCCI students pass some of those classes!
Yes, there is a REAL University there. It’s called the University of Tampa. According to today’s Net News, our new Chariman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission Mr. Dan Scott went there and obtained his BS degree in accounting. Are you saying that Dan Scott is a fool? I think not.
I am not saying anyone is a fool, but in the TODAY’S world of competitive marketplaces choosing to go to such a weak tertiary establishment does seem to be a foolish decision. The rankings don’t hold it in high esteem.
No.
There are no real universities in Florida.
I suspect that Duke is the nearest decent place.
There are exceptions to every rule obviously. Congrats to your niece for excelling among the dross but surely it must make you angry that your family sold her out by sending her to UCCI and wasting a couple of years of her life?
You people are venumous! Obviously looking for a means to be sarcastic – her niece’s time at UCCI was not wasted but obviously her family credits it to aiding her in her present studies
Well done on your niece behalf; but it appears the University of Tampa accepts just about everyone, a collegue of mine has an acceptance letter from UT, but is worried sick they would qualify for the overseas scholarship as thier GPA from UCCI is just about 2.0. My son couldnt get into a certain Tech College with that GPA.
Actually the University of Tampa’s doesn’t accept just about everyone. According to 2008 statistics, UT’s acceptance rate was 49.0%, which is low compared to many other universities.
If my memory serves me correctly, the University of Tampa was dropped from the list of approved scholarship institutions by the Cayman Islands Government a long, long time ago.
Unfortunately your memory does not serve you correctly as there are currently many Caymanians on government scholarship attending the University of Tampa.
No, it most certainly was not dropped from the list of approved. Where on earth did you get that from? The University of Tampa churns out a very high standard of student. The Cayman Islands still sponsors students at that institution. Get your facts straight before planting seeds of doubt.
Search Tampa on the rankings, be ready to scroll a long long way down. Once you start hitting obscure institutions in Kentucky and West Virginia you will know you are getting close.
Does anybody else find it insulting, ironic, or just plain odd that Mr. Anglin is so full of criticism of UCCI a mere few days before their graduation? If my son or daughter went there and was graduating this week I would tell them not to bother shaking his hand when he’s handing out diplomas with a fake smile on his face. The hypocrisy would be hard to take. How is he going to say "congratulations" with a straight face? I know many young Caymanians who have attended UCCI, and those that have graduated worked hard and earned their degrees – unlike that sad excuse for a high school that hands out diplomas to any student who maintains reasonable attendance. Give your head a shake Rolston.
I think Rolston is getting UCCI confused with the government high schools. You have to write exams and pass to get a diploma at UCCI. Showing up doesn’t count. That only counts in high school. Maybe that is the real problem here.
Unfortunately, it will take another 5 yrs. before UCCI can overcome the poor international stature. How many graduates go on to higher learning, and where? It is a disservice to these students and family to equate this school with any kind of University education.
In relation to the comments from 19:42, I dont pretend to know the histories of any students from UCCI other than one. She completed an associates degree at UCCI then went on to a large very highly rated private university in the US where she completed a bachelors degree with a combined GPA of 3.99. The irony is that she maintained a straight 4.0 GPA doing her bachelors so it was a slightly lower grade at UCCI that brought her cumulative grade down and prevented her from graduating summa cum laude. On the basis of this young lady’s experience it seems to me that UCCI must have done a decent job in preparing and enabling the performance she demonstrated.
I can understand and totally agree with Rolston’s comments re scholarships being conditional on appropriate grades. The private sector (businesses and individuals) to my knowledge will require good grades as a condition of continued sponsorship and it is essential that the students demonstrate the appropriate level of respect and commitment to those sponsoring them and the courses they are undertaking.
What is breathtakingly astonishing however, is the way in which Rolston has seemingly attempted to completely undermined public confidence in UCCI. Is it really worth that to try to score a few points against the previous Minister? I cannot imagine how that can be rationalised. If there are legitimate issues to address then take the steps to address them! Dont tear down the organisation at the same time! Surely you wouldnt purport to identify issues in your business and publicly announce the terrible products you sell, the horrible service you provide and the awful management that has been busy perfecting the art of price gouging whilst you go about resolving those problems to improve the first two and eliminate the last for the survival and growth of your business?
Ifyou feel that you have positive changes to make then get on with it Rolston and quit the grandstanding. You have already wasted 18 months trying to figure if you needed to do anything. Just dont undermine the young Caymanians that are working hard and deserve recognition for their efforts at the same time!
Precisely. Universities are only as effcetive as the student/s that attend. We must stop belittling universities like the University of Tampa, and others that have a long heritage of great students and results simply because we don’t like them or because a particular student did not do what they should have done.
Until the responsibility is placed on the lowest level (i.e. hold students responsible for their results- Minister Anglin responsible for his results no matter who he blames) then we will not solve this or any problem.
About time. Students should go to UCCI with the aim of studying hard to gain a respectable qualification that will help them later on in life. Too many of the current students are just their to party and have a good time.
"Government would begin offering both the International Baccalaureate and the new Advance Placement programmes at a fraction of the cost of A’ levels at Cayman Prep and St Ignatius."
Rolston is able to do this because of all the work that went into preparing the school system during the last administration so that they could be implemented. The minister is acting like he found something that Alden had overlooked, not something he spent four years working towards.
I don’t always agree with everything Rolston says, but I definitely have to agree with this. I have a daughter who is on a Government scholarship and I want to know that when she walks down that aisle from her University that she has all that degree ask for.
As the author of the post directly below yours, I feel compelled to tell you that you have missed the crux of the matter completely.
The problem is that there are many students receiving Government (read mine and yours) money who will NOT walk down the aisle to receive any sort of diploma.
The amount of time that a student is allowed to remain in college/university with failing grades will vary from one institution to the next, but the scholarship should be yanked long before it reaches the stage that the institution tells them that they are no longer eligible to attend.
As for your daughter, it is not a very difficult task to look at her transcripts to see what she was studying and what grades she achieved. My daughter was always happy to show hers to me. If you don’t already know what grades your daughter is getting in all of her classes then you should be worried.
Cut the crap Rolston. You have been Minister for Education for more than a year now.
Any students that have not met the conditions of their scholarship should have it revoked, and start proccedings immediately to recover the money already spent from their surety.
As one of the many Caymanians who attended university on a government scholarship, and who followed the guidelines, achieved the grades, and repaid government many times over and in every respect for the money invested in my education, I demand that you stop wasting my money and do something now.
I’m not interesting in seeing any draft guidelines that you can come up with blaming Alden for the money given to students who should NOT have received it since August/September last year.
“It is unacceptable for employers to find graduates of UCCI who cannot do what their certificates and degrees document they should clearly be able to do,”
So am I to understand from this quote from the Minister that UCCI hands out diplomas to students that do not pass their courses???? Wow how things have changed since I went to college. I was on a scholarship with a local accounting firm and they checked my grades every semester before I was granted funding for the next. I am glad that when I was in school that I actually had to do the work before I got my diploma.
The youth of Cayman are the future and I cannot believe that it is the 21st century and we are just figuring out that we should not graduate students from school unless they have made the grade. This is shameful and every single member of governemnt past and present that has had any hand in writing the education law that would bring us to this should be called to serious task and……well we dont flog people anymore but something should be done.
This is front page news and we want the world to think that we are one of the top financial centers in the world?? How did we make that grade and who gave it to us????
the only reason you worked for your diploma is that you had to…. or thought you did.
Now one doesn’t have to, so what. Why work hard if you don’t have to?
This is a teaching problem and political interference problem. Fix that, keep politics out of the school and you will see the standards raise.