14% VAT on private education has not gone away

Dear Editor,

I had very much hoped to be able to move on and not have to write anything more about the imposition of the 14% VAT on private education, but two recent events have prompted this letter.

A few days ago, I had a very brief meeting with a member of the Cabinet. That person assured me in front of three other persons that “we are going to remove the 14% VAT.” Then I read in the newspaper over the weekend that the President also alluded to a similar position on the part of his government.

I asked the minister when the tax would be removed, as already more than 100 students have left Nations because they are unable to bear this added financial burden. The response was “soon, but not just now, as we need so much money to rebuild the prison.”

If the decision exists to make the change, then surely that acknowledges that it was a mistake in the first place. I suggested to the minister that the change should be made very soon — in time for the new school year, as students would simply miss their cut-off dates for enrollment on the various international programmes that we offer.

In normal life, when we make a mistake, we are surely obliged to acknowledge the fact, correct the wrong as soon as possible, and move on. A change in the next budget in no way meets these requirements of honest self-reflection and effective leadership.

Dr Brian O’Toole

Director, School of Nations