Editorial: Good move to change GATE rules

The decision by the government to cut off funding for students who don't maintain an acceptable Grade Point Average (GPA) in their tertiary studies is an excellent one. 

This is not a move to deprive anyone of an education but a way to motivate students to work hard and graduate. After all, that is the point of going to school.

The GATE program is one of the most generous initiatives ever to be handed to young people. 

It started during the Panday UNC administration with the "Dollar for Dollar" program and was improved by the Manning PNM government, which provided full funding for students attending approved courses at accredited institutions. The bill has been in excess of $3 billion, which has been a worthwhile investment in the future of the country.

However, given its wide coverage it was inevitable that the state needed to put in place some stringent checks and balances to ensure that it was not being abused. 

Denial of funding for poor performance might sound harsh but it is the standard measure to motivate students who are lagging behind. 

It would be wrong to continue to fund anyone whose grades fall below the accepted standard of his or her university or other institution of higher learning because as Tertiary education Minister Fazal Karim stated, government cannot continue to reward failure.

This policy is not aimed at penalising anyone or any group or class of students; it's intended to send a message to everyone attending university or college that you need to pass your exams and get acceptable grades if someone is paying the bills for your education. Perhaps the government should go further and demand some kind of service to the state on graduation.

So far what the government has done is create an opportunity for students to get serious about their studies. It's no longer going to be an entitlement at all cost because now students would have to show that there is a return on the investment in them. 

Nobody is permanently shutting the door; those who catch up would have the GATE funding restored. 

That is most reasonable and is in keeping with international standards. And it ensures that the state's expenditure in education is yielding a fair return on its investment.