Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) President Belinda Wilson said the government's student permit policy will put a greater financial burden on parents who are still trying to overcome the additional costs associated with value-added tax (VAT). According to Minister of Immigration Fred Mitchell, the annual permit costs $25 with a processing fee of $100 and "every non-national should have one".
"For years, teachers have put their hands in their pockets [for students'] uniforms, lunch, breakfast and books," she said in a recent interview. "Teachers go and spend their money to get books copied so students would have handouts. I actually see an increase based on the implementation of VAT, and if the new policy is going to be implemented in September, I think that is going to exacerbate the costs. I foresee much, much more financial difficulties for the parents. I think it will definitely highlight itself in the school system."
All non-Bahamian students will be required to possess a student permit or a passport with a residency stamp when schools open in fall 2015. The requirement also applies to children who are born in The Bahamas, but have foreign parents. The rule is a part of the wider immigration policy, which focuses on reducing the number of illegal immigrants living in The Bahamas.
When asked whether she agrees with the policy, Wilson said the BUT was still forming a position and examining the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, Wilson said she believes there should be a record of every individual in The Bahamas. She suggested the population census should be expanded to achieve this. A population census is conducted every 10 years. The last census was conducted in 2010.
"I believe that [for] every person who occupies whatever country, there should be some record of who they are, how old they are and some of the demographics that relates to them - age, date of birth and where you live," she said. "That is basic information. I definitely believe that we need to have, I would say, the census be expanded to include everyone."
Wilson also said September may be too soon an implementation date for the new policy.
"The policy will include, not only immigration, not only education, not only social services, but other stakeholders," she said. "I would say off the top of my head it may be too soon. It may be too soon because I see it as a complex matter that needs to be dealt with in a comprehensive way."
Wilson weighed in on the matter ahead of Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald's announcement that education officials will be flexible in the enforcement of the new policy. However, Fitzgerald said the government is "resolute" in its determination that all non-Bahamian students must have a student permit to attend schools in The Bahamas.
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