Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
According to UIS data, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education in Trinidad and Tobago was 11.83% in 2004.
Tuition-free status
Higher education is not stated as free.
Governance
The Ministry of Education is responsible for developing policies, determining funding strategies, allocating budgets, monitoring institutional effectiveness, and overseeing the use of public funds across tertiary institutions. While these programmes are administered by the Ministry of Education, their annual funding levels are approved by the Ministry of Finance as part of the national budget process.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Tertiary education in the country is highly centralised. As a result, no subnational funding mechanisms exist, and all public funding is administered directly by the Ministry of Education.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
The central government, through the Ministry of Education, does not provide direct operational funding or subventions to private higher education institutions but provide funding support to students enrolled in qualifying programmes at accredited institutions.
Allocation and equity
Government subsidies to public higher education institutions are primarily provided through general funding to support the delivery of education and training programmes. Institutions do not receive dedicated equity-targeted funds; instead, equity objectives are addressed through student-based mechanisms, such as scholarships, grants, or financial aid directly allocated to students.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Tertiary education in the country does not have specific or reserved admission criteria for vulnerable groups. Access for these students is primarily supported through scholarships, grants, and loan programmes, rather than through targeted admission policies.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The National Bursaries Programme, launched by the Ministry of Education in November 2020, annually provides scholarships for 500 students pursuing their first undergraduate degree. It is targetted at students demonstrating academic ability with an interest in pursuing studies in national priority areas who are facing financial difficulty. Eligibility requires meeting all the requirements, passing the National Bursary Means Test and achieving at least eight CAPE Examination subject units at Grades I or II, with no more than one Grade III, over a period not exceeding two consecutive years in Form 6, including the award year. The scholarship covers full tuition and compulsory institutional fees, along with a monthly maintenance allowance of TT$3,043, payable per quarter (2024). Book allowances for the first year are TT$9,711 for medical students and TT$8,062 for non-medical students, with subsequent years providing TT$5,711 and TT$4,062, respectively. Bursaries are renewed annually provided that the student maintains satisfactory academic progress (for example, meeting the minimum GPA requirement).
GATE (Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses) Programme
The GATE programme, administered by the Funding and Grants Administration Division of the Ministry of Education since 2004, offers financial assistance to citizens enrolled in approved programmes at accredited public and private tertiary institutions. Under the amended GATE policy effective August 2020, funding for postgraduate programmes was discontinued, and the programme now covers only undergraduate programmes. Eligibility is based on a means test: households earning less than TT$10,000 per month receive full tuition coverage (100%); households earning between TT$10,000 and TT$30,000 receive 75% coverage; households earning between TT$30,000 and TT$75,000 receive 50% coverage; and households above TT$75,000 are not eligible.
HELP (Higher Education Loan Programme)
The HELP programme, introduced in 2006, is a government-subsidised loan facility for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago pursuing tertiary education locally or within the CARICOM region. Interest is subsidised by the government, and eligibility extends to individuals aged 18–50 with household incomes below TT$75,000 per month, enrolled in accredited and ACTT-approved institutions or programmes. HELP covers tuition, accommodation, airfare, local transport, books, and other related expenses. Loan limits vary by study type and location: up to TT$35,000 per year for three years for study in Trinidad and Tobago; up to TT$75,000 per year for three years for regional University of the West Indies campuses; and for medical programmes, up to TT$175,000 locally over five years or TT$375,000 regionally.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
The National Bursaries Programme and The Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) cover the costs of living-including accommodation, textbooks and transportation.
Accommodation
The National Bursaries Programme and The Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) cover the costs of living-including accommodation, textbooks and transportation.
Textbooks
The National Bursaries Programme and The Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) cover the costs of living-including accommodation, textbooks and transportation.
This profile was reviewed by Dr. Bephyer Parey, Research Fellow, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
