Students from the University of the West Indies (UWI) graduating class 2021 are complaining about the price of this year’s graduation portrait. They said the cost is now more than double that of last year and many of them cannot afford it.
“The price for our graduation portraits this year is basically beyond ridiculous, the cost is now at a whopping 240 dollars as oppose to the 100 dollars that was offered last year,” 2021 graduate Shaian Balliram said.
Balliram who is graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Primary) along with her colleague Yanna Dyett who is graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Spanish spoke with Guardian Media outside the St Augustine Campus on Wednesday.
They said they do not believe the breakdown of the cost was justified especially after all their hard work in the last three to four years.
An emailed response sent from the graduation committee to Dyett when she questioned the price said, that the 240 dollars cost was not determined in an ad hoc manner and cannot be lowered.
Dyett said this explanation was not good enough.
“We have a problem with the lack of response and interest by the UWI graduation committee when we raised their matters…the lack of interest on their part to compromise,” Dyett said.
The students also called for clarity on what the fee will cover, according to Dyett an email sent to them said it will be for one digital photograph.
“It did not include any launder of the regalia nothing of the sort but they are inferring that it did but in the email, it does not say anything concerning that so we are a little bit confused,” Dyett added.
UWI Guild President Kobe Sandy said he enquired about the cost from UWI and was told that the 240 dollars will cover laundry services and the rights for the photo to be given back to the students.
He said he understands the confusion caused by the email that did not state what the fee would cover and communicated that with the administration. But now that it’s cleared up he said the price was justified even as they continue to negotiate.
While Balliram and Dyett spoke out they were not the only students who raised concerns about the cost. On social media, Rene said she felt disrespected as a student and Clare questioned how UWI spends its money as she claimed the school was always broke.
And if the student is unable to pay the cost according to Balliram, “it’s like you did not graduate.”
“Everybody deserves the right, the opportunity to be seen on the slide show of their virtual graduation,” Balliram said.
“I have a number of friends who cannot pay that cost… how would you feel if that was you?” Dyett asked.
They suggested that those who cannot make the $240 should be able to submit their own photo so they can be displayed on their big day.
Guardian Media reached out to graduating committee who referred our questions to the Marketing & Communications Unit for the necessary response.
It said the UWI has been addressing the concerns and had a recent town hall about the matter on September 2.
The unit said the UWI is mindful of students financial challenges and is looking into the matter.
Graduation for these students start on October 28 and ends on the 30.
