Educat private sc

The Guyana Private Schools United turned out for the second week to protest the government’s implementation of VAT on private tuition fees, but this time the group took their grievances to the Ministry of Education’s head office on Brickdam.

The crowd comprised mostly students, local and foreign alike, who, along with parents and the schools’ administrative staff, lined off on each side of the street where the ministry’s buildings are located, as they picketed for the removal of the tax from tuition fees.

“I am protesting with the other parents because we are sending our children to Islamic School, we want them to learn Islamic studies. We want them to learn Arabic, Qur’an and other Islamic studies. The other schools are not going to teach those morals to our kids, so because we choose to send our children to private school that doesn’t mean you need to tax us and VAT us, we’re already paying for it, why are you VATing us on it?” Jomana Cyrus, parent of a student attending the Isa Islamic School expressed.

Principal of the Isa Islamic School Akram Hussain called the education tax a “wicked, evil imposition” by the government, one that has “shackled private schools.”

He said the proprietors of private institutions are helping the government to carry out its mandate in delivering education to citizens and as such, should be greeted with support, rather than being penalized.

“None of the private schools receive any form of subsidy from the government, whether it be text books, lab equipment, or otherwise. We’re educating the sons and daughters of Guyana and we should be supported,” he said.

“We might not have students here from high school or primary school but this extends far beyond that. It extends to anybody who wants to get a higher education, Rakesh Latchana of Ram and McRae stated, adding that the tax is discouraging the development of human resources and reducing access to higher education.

Several who spoke with this media house viewed the VAT as a barrier to the country’s development, one which will dissuade Guyanese from investing in their own educational pursuits, as well as the foreigners who choose these shores to further their studies.

“… Most of us from Texila are not even from Guyana and