Had it not been for the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (Gate) programme, 65-year-old retiree Motilal Boodoosingh would not have been able to pursue his dream of studying literature.
“I got a chance to do something I always wanted to do. I used the degree programme to enhance my skills and my ability to deliver,” he said.
Boodoosingh graduated magna cum laude from the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of T&T (Costaatt) in November 2015.
The former offshore worker studied literature and communications and said he has a keen interest in writing short stories.
When the Sunday Guardian caught up with Boodoosingh on Friday via telephone, he showered praises on the government facility which allowed him to pursue his dream.
Boodoosingh is one of many citizens over the age of 50 who pursued tertiary education with funding through the Gate programme.
On Wednesday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia announced that Government-paid tuition fees would no longer be available to students 50 and over who were starting programmes next year.
Students already enrolled in programmes would continue to receive funding.
Boodoosingh said his daughter and stepdaughter were fortunate to receive funding and had already paid their dues by giving back to the country.
“Even I have given back,” he said.
For four years, Boodoosingh studied for a Bachelor of Arts in literature and communication, having previously done an associate degree.
Asked why literature and not something closer to the field he had spent almost three decades in, he said, “I always loved literature but in my time I could not attend university to start with and I had to get into the engineering business...money nah...I had to care for my family.”
He believed tertiary education helped him in the area of volunteerism.
He worked as a tutor with the Adult Literacy Tutors Association and also as a remedial English tutor with the Penal Police Youth Club.
He said, “All this thing about giving back and so on, I give back already and still giving back.”
But Boodoosingh is now disappointed that people 50 and over will no longer have access to a free tertiary education. He feels people in his age category have a lot to give back to society.
“People over 50 have a lot to give. They can volunteer. They can improve themselves and their skills but what I found is that the people over 50 were more serious in the classes and their studies.”
Boodoosingh, who lives in Penal, also writes short stories and has already been published a few times.
His daughter, he said, had “several” degrees and benefited from what was the Dollar for Dollar programme and then Gate.
His stepdaughter also accessed Gate funding.
“But we have all paid our dues,” he added.
‘Sad situation for those with potential’
Meanwhile, another mature student who was the 2015 class valedictorian at Costaatt, Arnold Ramkaran, who did not want to give his age, said he studied in order to enhance his qualifications and skills.
The Ministry of Health employee studied environmental sciences.
He said, “I was grateful for the opportunity for the Gate programme. I studied for two years part-time.
“In my earlier years I was focusing on other aspects of my life like family and children.”
Asked if he would still have pursued his education without Gate funding, Ramkaran said it depended on the cost.
He said he did not expect to “do so well” in his programme as to be named valedictorian.
“I did the best I could. The programme has helped me with my job as well.”
He said many mature students who have the potential will no longer be able to pursue their education.
“That is a sad situation,” Ramkaran added.