Guyanese are taking a stand against Government’s imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on education – a service which is a necessity to develop a country and is enshrined in the Constitution as a basic human right.
A mass online movement is taking shape where hundreds of persons have already signed a petition against Government’s decision to charge 14 per cent on private educational services.
The petition is not only protesting the imposition of VAT on the education services but also on education – related expenses because Government has always paved
A mass online movement is taking shape where hundreds of persons have already signed a petition against Government’s decision to charge 14 per cent VAT on private educational services
the way for this tax to be charged on reading materials, geometry sets and other items necessary for attaining a sound education.
“It is not presented with any political agenda nor is it presented as an appeal on behalf of private schools. Rather it is presented as an issue which affects us all in Guyana,” the petition, which was launched by the School of the Nations explained.
The organised campaign argued that the imposition of the 14 per cent VAT on private schools will impact very heavily on the children and youth attending those schools.
“For some, the perception is that anyone who attends a private school must be wealthy. That perception may be true for a certain percentage but, for the majority, attendance at such schools often represents a real sacrifice by a family member,” the body explained.
Director of the School of the Nations, Dr Brian O’Toole, highlighted that one of the most popular courses in Guyana, with more than 1000 students, is the ABE programme with courses for school leavers, in business, management, travel and tourism and computer technology.
He said this imposition may force many students to abandon their pursuance of a sound education altogether.
According to the educator, “the only hope for Guyana moving forward is an educated, motivated pool of youth who see Guyana as theirs. This new tax does nothing to further that vision, that sense of optimism, the idea that they can rise out of poverty.”
Many other bodies have come out criticising Government over its decision to charge VAT on education – a policy that is not practiced anywhere else in the world which strives for economic betterment.
Condemnation
Opposition Leader and former President Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned this approach by the Government, noting that it’s a demonstration that the Administration lacks clear vision on the education sector.
President of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Vishnu Doerga also supports the movement, contending that VAT on education will not develop Guyana.
Additionally, many letter writers have penned powerful arguments against the tax on education.
One writer expressed that this “brain tax” appears to be not constitutional as Article 27(1) of the Constitution of Guyana enshrines access to education as a right, “and while a tax on the profits and incomes of for-profit schools and educators is fair game, a tax on the consumption of education is an infringement of that right. Further, as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Guyana committed itself to guaranteeing access to quality education.”
Defence
But in a high handed defense however, Finance Minister Winston Jordan contended that if the parents ‘choose’ to send their children to private schools then they should afford the price as there is no VAT on public education.
