The closure of University of St. Martin (USM) continues to be the topic of much debate. Despite receiving the10 per cent of its 2013 and 2014 subsidies withheld pending financial reporting obligations, it appears the institution of higher learning can’t make ends meet.
Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs said the retroactive payments had been released without the required audited reports, for which the decree in question may have to be amended. The missing documents are still expected in the near future, while more information is needed to evaluate the situation and seek proper advice before taking any decision on allocating unbudgeted funds.
She requested patience and pointed out that the draft tertiary education law has been rejected, so the process to pass one would have to start from scratch. Government has no proof of the claimed accreditation of certain USM programmes either.
Taking into account the current situation on the island, finding extra money locally will be difficult at best. If the university were to operate normally again it would receive at least tuition for students with study financing, but this doesn’t even come close to the NAf. 3 million per year requested.
The issue is quite complicated, but the Minister herself had earlier mentioned as a possible scenario including it in a National Recovery Fund. If aid for the latter can be obtained from the Netherlands, adding educational matters and job-training like USM’s Teacher Education Programme (TEP) at USM might well be feasible, also considering their importance.
Once again, reaching agreement with The Hague on significant assistance soon is not optional, but an ever-growing bare necessity.
