National

Some Students, These Funds Are All They Have

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Student Government Association at the University of The Bahamas says students are frustrated with payment delays from the government, saying it’s not only inconvenient but also a financial strain.

Published

2 months ago

March 5, 2025

Joshua Williams

The government’s Tertiary Grant Program subsidizes tuition and student aid at the University of The Bahamas, including the accommodation grant and nursing and teachers’ stipends.

President Chante Deal says over the past few days, hundreds of students have told them they have not gotten their funds.

Chante Deal – Student Govt. Assoc. President, University of The Bahamas
“Why these delayed payments occur, why it happens in the frequency it does, every semester the students are faced with the same challenges.”

The program was launched back in June 2019 under the Minnis administration.

In order to qualify, students must be Bahamian, be enrolled full-time, take a minimum of 12 credits per semester, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Despite meeting the requirements, she says nursing and teaching students are those affected most.

Chante Deal – Student Govt. Assoc. President, University of The Bahamas
“We need some supplies to help us with our matriculation through the university, so for our studies, I know a lot of teachers express time and time again how costly supplies like markers, posters, and things that they need to prepare their teacher plans, their lesson studies when they go on teaching practices, etc.”

But that’s not all. She says the delays have even prevented students from having proper housing, especially those coming from the Family Islands.

Chante Deal – Student Govt. Assoc. President, University of The Bahamas
“It helps them with off-campus housing, and it helps them to pay their rent. A lot of these individuals solely depend on the accommodations grant for their rent to be paid. A lot of them are unable to balance work life and school life. So this sole dependence puts them at a disadvantage. When the payments are delayed, they try to speak with their landlords, try to convince their landlords that payments are coming. However, when these payments are so late, months after months of nothing coming through, landlords request that they be evicted.”

Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin says the issue has to be resolved soon and a plan put in place to prevent it from happening again.

Glenys Hanna-Martin – Minister, Education
“On my behalf, I have to apologize to the students for being placed in this dilemma. We’re trying to get to the root of the deficit or the deficiency, and I will do my utmost to ensure these funds are paid expeditiously. And so we’re following up now with the Ministry of Finance to see how quickly these funds can be released.”

We reached out to the university, but they declined to comment on the matter.