They actually reversed the tax and I am frankly stunned because I really thought they would just dig their heels in forever. It was all of you refusing to let this slide that moved the needle here so please take a minute to realize what happened because we need to …
April 18, 2017
Final supporters
Petition re 14% VAT on education fees
The purpose of this petition is to appeal the recent imposition of a 14% VAT tax on education-related expenses. 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 imposition of the 14% VAT on private schools however will, of course, 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.
One of the most popular courses in Guyana, with more than 1,000 students, is the ABE programme with courses, for school leavers, in business, management, travel and tourism and computer technology. The students have been informed, a few days ago, that with immediate effect, their fees have now been increased by 14%. A number of these students pay the fees in G$100 bills, this new imposition may simply mean they stop the course, stay home and lose hope and add to the growing numbers of the unemployed and unemployable.
Nations may not be alone in having a pro bono branch. The branch for Nations is in Berbice. They have been supported for more than 15 years by scholarship support from Nations in Georgetown and by persons from overseas. Those same sponsors from overseas when they are now told that an additional 14% is required to pay in government taxes will simply send their donations to other countries.
But it is not only children at full time attendance at private schools who will bear the burden of this 14% levy, it is in fact almost every home in the country as parents find they are paying more for pencils, crayons and basic school supplies.
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.
This petition is addressed to the politicians, economists, and strategists who made the decision to impose this levy and to simply ask them to seek some other means to raise revenue. A tax on education is surely not the path to take in 2017.
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
February 13, 2017
February 12, 2017
I keep staring at the signature count and thinking about how those extra few hundred people are going to push this over the edge for the ministry to finally take a look. Can you reach out to someone who still hasn't seen this because if we stop moving now the momentum just dies in a corner and we need that impact right this second.
February 11, 2017
I have been reading through the comments all morning and honestly the stories about families scraping together hundred dollar bills just to stay in class are breaking my heart. This is about so much more than just tax policy because if we lose these students to dropout rates we are losing the future of our workforce. I am currently trying to set a time to sit down with someone who actually has the power to change this and I promise to tell you everything once I know more.
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 10, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
February 9, 2017
February 8, 2017
We are getting near that first hundred mark and honestly if everyone just grabbed their phone right now and blasted a link to their group chats it would push us right over the edge. It is wild how fast this is moving though I keep checking the notifications and my brain just starts buzzing with ideas on how to get more people to notice the absurd cost of these fees right when students are trying to build their futures.
1,432 Comments
Education is a human right not a good or service to be taxed like a luxury car. Youth can move the world. Their capacity to develop them self, their family, their community and the world is dependant on their knowledge gained through education .
Parents like myself seek private schooling for our children with great sacrifice because of the weaknesses in the public system; not because of any perceived affluence. We want the best advantages for our children so we can ensure a dynamic nation.
I am a single parent making a huge sacrifice to send my children to a private institution simply for a better education and to maximize their potential. This will definitely be disastrous given my current budget. I'm against VAT on education, period!
Not only should it be vat free, a different tax rate should be given to the school and a tax credit to parents and students for fees since these persons bear the burden of providing schools, furniture, teachers and other consumables for the government.
Private schools support the country's development in supplying Human Resources and indirectly reduces the burden on the government to finance those children. Then why increase the cost for parents when they should be given incentives instead.
oooo
School must be out of VAT
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They actually reversed the tax and I am frankly stunned because I really thought they would just dig their heels in forever. It was all of you refusing to let this slide that moved the needle here so please take a minute to realize what happened because we need to …
April 18, 2017
Final supporters
Petition re 14% VAT on education fees
The purpose of this petition is to appeal the recent imposition of a 14% VAT tax on education-related expenses. 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 imposition of the 14% VAT on private schools however will, of course, 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.
One of the most popular courses in Guyana, with more than 1,000 students, is the ABE programme with courses, for school leavers, in business, management, travel and tourism and computer technology. The students have been informed, a few days ago, that with immediate effect, their fees have now been increased by 14%. A number of these students pay the fees in G$100 bills, this new imposition may simply mean they stop the course, stay home and lose hope and add to the growing numbers of the unemployed and unemployable.
Nations may not be alone in having a pro bono branch. The branch for Nations is in Berbice. They have been supported for more than 15 years by scholarship support from Nations in Georgetown and by persons from overseas. Those same sponsors from overseas when they are now told that an additional 14% is required to pay in government taxes will simply send their donations to other countries.
But it is not only children at full time attendance at private schools who will bear the burden of this 14% levy, it is in fact almost every home in the country as parents find they are paying more for pencils, crayons and basic school supplies.
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.
This petition is addressed to the politicians, economists, and strategists who made the decision to impose this levy and to simply ask them to seek some other means to raise revenue. A tax on education is surely not the path to take in 2017.
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
February 13, 2017
February 12, 2017
I keep staring at the signature count and thinking about how those extra few hundred people are going to push this over the edge for the ministry to finally take a look. Can you reach out to someone who still hasn't seen this because if we stop moving now the momentum just dies in a corner and we need that impact right this second.
February 11, 2017
I have been reading through the comments all morning and honestly the stories about families scraping together hundred dollar bills just to stay in class are breaking my heart. This is about so much more than just tax policy because if we lose these students to dropout rates we are losing the future of our workforce. I am currently trying to set a time to sit down with someone who actually has the power to change this and I promise to tell you everything once I know more.
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 10, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
February 9, 2017
February 8, 2017
We are getting near that first hundred mark and honestly if everyone just grabbed their phone right now and blasted a link to their group chats it would push us right over the edge. It is wild how fast this is moving though I keep checking the notifications and my brain just starts buzzing with ideas on how to get more people to notice the absurd cost of these fees right when students are trying to build their futures.
1,432 Comments
Should be VAT free.. Education is the key to our future.. We need education in Guyana.. And, these Private institution offers courses that the Public Education System can't offer.. Eg: ABE & ACCA Say NO to 14% VAT on private education..
Education is a human right not a good or service to be taxed like a luxury car. Youth can move the world. Their capacity to develop them self, their family, their community and the world is dependant on their knowledge gained through education .
Parents like myself seek private schooling for our children with great sacrifice because of the weaknesses in the public system; not because of any perceived affluence. We want the best advantages for our children so we can ensure a dynamic nation.
I am a single parent making a huge sacrifice to send my children to a private institution simply for a better education and to maximize their potential. This will definitely be disastrous given my current budget. I'm against VAT on education, period!
Not only should it be vat free, a different tax rate should be given to the school and a tax credit to parents and students for fees since these persons bear the burden of providing schools, furniture, teachers and other consumables for the government.
Private schools support the country's development in supplying Human Resources and indirectly reduces the burden on the government to finance those children. Then why increase the cost for parents when they should be given incentives instead.
oooo
School must be out of VAT
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Should be VAT free.. Education is the key to our future.. We need education in Guyana.. And, these Private institution offers courses that the Public Education System can't offer.. Eg: ABE & ACCA Say NO to 14% VAT on private education..