Rep. Gray opposes tuition increase

Montserrado County Electoral District #8 Representative Acarous M. Gray has written his colleagues in the House against the hike in tuition and deplorable learning environment at the University of Liberia.

Rep. Gray said it is important that as lawmakers, they look at the UL issue because most officials of government are either graduates or attending the university, stressing that enrollment and tuition at the UL is at a critical junction.

ccording to him, the University of Liberia hosts tens of thousands of students who come from very disadvantaged homes and cannot afford minimum fees but their quest for education has made them to either seek scholarships or financial aids by pragmatically begging the affluent in society.

Gray, himself a graduate of the University of Liberia, said most students at the institution are sons and daughters of market women, rural and urban peasants from disadvantaged communities.

Speaking Tuesday, 12 April during regular session at the Capitol he said, growing concerns of tuition hike at the University is a serious issue and must be looked into because whenever there is problem at the institution, students always call on lawmakers and not the Executive to intervene on their behalf.

lso speaking, Lofa County Representative Eugene Fallah Kparkar, said the hike in tuition at the State-run university is a very important, adding that many Liberians have the pursuit to seek higher education and their dream should not to die, so it is incumbent on them as Representatives of the people to see how best the issue can be resolved. The Board of Trustees of the University of Liberia recently increased tuition from US$ 2.00 to US$ 4.00 per credit hour.

Meanwhile, Rep. Gray’s communication was read and forwarded to the House’s leadership for action.

By Bridgett Milton -Editing by Jonathan Browne