Enrolment in tertiary education programmes declines by 5.3%

The decline in tertiary education enrolment in Trinidad and Tobago has been caused by several factors, chief executive of the UWI Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business Mariano Browne has said, writes Verdel Bishop for the Daily Express.

According to the Social Sector Investment Programme, which was tabled with the 2025 budget in parliament, “fiscal 2024 estimation reflects a consecutive year of decline in tertiary education enrolment and represents a decrease of 5.3% or 1,461 students … Similarly, in 2023, the student enrolment was an estimated 27,450, a decline of 8.3% from 2022 when there were 29,964 students”.

In a phone interview with the Sunday Express, Browne said there were several reasons for the decline in young people pursuing tertiary education. “The decline has been caused by three things. First is the withdrawal of the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses for graduate students; confidence in economic prospects; and “counterproductive rules” of the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago.
Full report on the Daily Express site