So while UB and the government work out that 3 million dollar deficit and the prospect of a subvention increase, Sankat said it is also up to the University to increase efficiency and cut costs where they can. Well, there were complaints that Sankat is trying to get rid of those retired lectures and cut their contracts. Today Sankat admitted that yes, some lecturers have to go but he says it is all part of the plan to revive the University.
Clement Sankat, President, University of Belize
"University are places of knowledge, the cant be fossilized, you have to have regeneration. That is what we are going to do. We have never said we are not going to employ those who have retired but under new conditions. There is a strange thing happening in Belize, that I have never heard about people collect pensions, people can collect gratuity then come back and have to be paid at the same level that they left. Well that is, I don't know where that comes from, but I don't think it applies to the region. We have to become more efficient. We respect those who have contributed well to our University, we continue to embrace them but we want to find a harmonious way to do so that everybody benefits."
It was noted today that UB's fees have hardly been increased since the university was formed in the year 2000, and that the present fees of US$45 per credit hour for a Bachelor's degree program and $15 per credit hour for an Associate's degree program, were the lowest in the region.
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