The Ministry of Finance has reportedly signed off on $3 million in promised bursaries for students at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus.
The commitment was given back in July 2014 by Minister of Education Ronald Jones but was not forthcoming by the start of the 2014/2015 academic year last September.
Two days ago, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) spokesman on education Edmund Hinkson had called on Jones to admit that his plan had not been approved and to apologize to university students for his failure.
However, informed sources told Barbados TODAY that approval has finally been given for the release of the funds which would assist about 3,000 students. Education officials are expected to make the announcement shortly.
Enrolment fell nearly 30 per cent at the UWI as a new tuition fee policy requiring Barbadian students to pay 20 per cent of the cost of their academic programme took effect from August 1, 2014.