The students at the University College of the Cayman Islands who participated in a survey about the school’s facilities are to be commended.
It took courage for them to speak out against unsafe, substandard or unhygienic bathrooms, inadequate security and what they perceive as poor teaching skills.
Parents and even some of the students themselves are dishing out hard earned money to gain knowledge in the hallowed halls of the University College.
Higher education is a product, bought and sold like a car, food or clothes.
We expect to get value for our dollar when shopping at retail venues. Nothing less should be expected from the University College.
The survey, the students said, was not done in any attempt to embarrass anyone. The students just want change.
And rightly so.
There is no disputing that mould and mildew are prevalent on classroom ceilings, cloth covered chairs and the air condition ventilation system.
And some of the bathroom facilities are just downright gross. Some of the toilets don’t have stalls and the exterior locks to some restrooms do not work. Many aren’t kept clean and some toilets aren’t working according to some of the students who took the survey.
Outside the buildings there is a lack of proper campus lighting, dangerously slippery walkways and a flooding parking lot when the rains set in.
The finger of blame in all of this can be pointed at two areas – Hurricane Ivan and the dire lack of cash.
Those who run the University College are to be commended for doing all that they could with the money they had on hand to get the school back up and running.
But they need help.
It would appear that the solution is sitting in the lap of Government.
UCCI President Sam Basdeo told the Caymanian Compass that there is a plan in place to get everything fixed at the school, but that the institution has not received one cent of insurance money it is owed from Government.
Government has long since collected on its Hurricane Ivan claim and Mr. Basdeo and others at the school have made repeated requests for their share of that money.
Mr. Basdeo said he was assured the school would receive its Hurricane Ivan insurance settlement money by the end of January.
We spoke to him Tuesday, 7 February and the coffers are still bare.
The students at the University College of the Cayman Islands are to be the future movers and shakers of the Cayman Islands and should be treated as such.
The school needs to be brought up to standard for those students and for future generations of learners who have a desire to better themselves and their stations in life.
It is in Government’s best interest to see that the institution that is training these minds is up to snuff.
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