Robert Nesta Marley, in Redemption Song, sang “emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds…” This can only be achieved through accessible sustained educational pursuits but the recent disclosure of the proposed Gate restrictions is a step in the wrong direction because you didn’t just pull the gate you shut the door on Direct Opportunity for Over-aged Recipients (DOOR.)
I am a 49-year-old part-time student of the T&T Hospitality & Tourism Institute (TTHTI) pursuing the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Culinary Management. I am in my final semester of the final year, however I was diagnosed with a chest infection and did not complete the semester requirements. I would therefore have to repeat the last semester.
My ambition was to continue to BSc which will take me into my 50s but that may not come to fruition because of the age limitation being stipulated now.
Bear in mind I am gainfully employed, meaning just enough to live but not enough to own anything. A pickle many a public servant find themselves in, like waiting on HDC random selection for 20 years. I agree that measures are to be put in place to cease the haemorrhaging of the public purse but in the same breath I refuse to accept the fact that “Peter should pay for Paul.”
Middle-aged educators and lifelong learners are equally entitled to the benefits of the clarion calls of “Education for all” and “no one left behind” educational policies as everyone else.
It is unfair for law abiding citizens who practised a sacrifice of love to forgo their educational advancement for 19 years or more (like in my case) in order to secure their children’s future, to be treated this way. We have made numerous contribution via PAYE and now when we want to exercise our right to education and a brighter future, we are denied.
This is a breach of my constitutional rights as a citizen of the Republic of T&T.
• The right to respect for your private and family life—denial of the sense of accomplishment and self-actualisation;
• The right to equality of treatment by public bodies—denial of equity across the board without discrimination.
Your focus should be on the career hoppers, courseaholics and indecisive dreamers who switch courses at a whim for various reasons.
The corporate world is not forgiving or sympathetic as it continuously make demands for upgrades in order to keep abreast with global career changes. And don’t forget CSME.
So in essence, after years of PAYE, you are now telling me to take a back seat and wait for retirement pension which may not be sufficient to keep a roof over my head in this economic down turn
How much tighter must I pull my belt.
Mora Moore-Ramkumar
Carlsen Field, Chaguanas