Private schools criticizes scholarship bill

The Coalition of Private Schools is opposing a professional scholarship program proposed by the House Committee on Education, citing the legislation’s vagueness in addressing the Commonwealth’s scholarship needs.

Scott Norman, Coalition of Private Schools president, has made vocal the group’s stance that the bill is “too open ended and is extremely unclear in several of its sections” and that there are other similar legislation awaiting enactment at the House.

Mr. Norman has instead suggested that a research team be established, including a private sector, to consolidate all proposed bills on scholarship into one piece of legislation.

Called the Professional Scholarship Act of 2000, its primary purpose is to provide educational scholarships to qualified applicants pursuing a professional occupation.

The legislation is trying to put in place a privately-funded scholarship program for professional occupants.

Mr. Norman has raised doubts on the legislation’s feasibility, deeply concerned on where scholarship funds will be sourced from.

“How will this scholarship fund be established considering the deep economic recession we are already experiencing? What is the legislature planning to do to jump start the economy so that funds will be available from the private sector?,” Mr. Norman asked the Legislature in a recent public hearing.

The creation of a professional scholarship board, under the proposed legislation, is also being questioned by private school officials as well as by members of the Board of Education.

While some BOE members commended the bill’s good intentions, Mr. Norman fears that putting in place of a new board would create more bureaucracy and promote micro-management within the system.

The proposed board is projected to include a bank executive appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, the Commissioner of Education, two appointed members by the Governor, and one appointed member by the Medical Profession Licensing Board.

“Why is there not a teacher on the board? Is the House willing to increase the number of people on the board to include someone from the private school teacher? And what about a member of professional trade organizations?
“Money is scarce on this island and will not the creation of another board with hired full time staff members defeat the purpose and deplete the already limited funds available?,” Mr. Norman raised.

One of the Coalition’s major concerns rests on the program’s applicant qualifications. Mr. Norman is interested to know who will determine the applicants’ qualifications and for that matter, who will draw up the regulations which should be equitable to all students.

“Will one be denied a scholarship because of the scholarship he chooses, a trade school, private university, a religious university?
“Who is to determine what profession is more important than another?,” he added.

Though the private school teacher lauded efforts by legislators to send more students for an off-island education, he also stressed that lawmakers should look at all existing programs and incorporate all of them into one student loan and scholarship program to serve its best purpose. (MM)