PLP Call For Education Funding To Be Restored
The PLP is calling on the Education Ministry to “restore funding of scholarships and grants to comparable levels of the recent past” and if that will not materialize, the Opposition suggested the Government “adopt a policy of interest free loans.”
Shadow Education Minister Lovitta Foggo said, “As a government, the Progressive Labour Party ensured that there was sufficient funding for students to pursue tertiary education.
“Most of this funding was in the form of scholarships and grants, which are non repayable forms of financial assistance.
“This week’s comments from Education & Economic Development Minister, Dr. Grant Gibbons, that the OBA government may introduce further education loans is somewhat disappointing.
“While we acknowledge that this is better than doing nothing, we feel it is incumbent on the Government to return scholarship funding to levels comparable in recent years passed.
“While loans allow students to pursue their education, we believe scholarships and grants provide a more balanced approach and are an added incentive to perform, not withstanding that such are usually awarded for excellence already demonstrated.
“Further to this, scholarships and awards are more beneficial to those candidates who are already financially challenged and who will have an increased burden with the acquisition of a loan. Much is said about a government in how it treats its less fortunate and how it educates its people. Qualified and ambitious students should not be marginalised simply because they don’t have the financial means.
“We call on the Education Ministry to restore funding of scholarships and grants to comparable levels of the recent past.
“Should this not materialize, we implore the Government to adopt a policy of interest free loans which will not require repayment until the recipients are gainfully employed, once having graduated from their respective tertiary institutions.
“We must remember that education is the bedrock of a community and government support should reflect such,” concluded Ms. Foggo.
Dear Ms. Foggo,
I don’t think that there is a person in Bermuda that does not want scholarships and grants restored. However, the reality is that we just can’t afford everything we want and cuts have to be made everywhere.
Don Greason $113, 480 to write Speeches
Charmaine Burgess $105, 765 to organize Press Conferences
10 Members of Tourism Board $200,00 to hold meetings
Premier travel in 2013 $180, 515
Crockwell for travel as tourism Minister $167,144
Total cost of Government travel for 2013 $5067,000
Monies paid to Tourism Authority is well over 1.6 million
I THINK I FOUND THE EXTRA MONIES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATION AWARDS,,,,,,,,,,,,
Pales on comparison to $4,000,000 spent on a weekend Beyoncé vanity project. At least taxpayers are receiving some value for money.
Where are we going to get the money from? Our previous government spent it and now there is none. The debt needs to be paid thanks to their poor control when in power, and every time there is a cut made to save money, ignorance is put forth. My wife and I have to pay for both of our children, why is government having to pay for ones that don’t make the sacrifices. We understand that we have cereal in the morning, pack lunch from home and dinner normally a home made soup, these are the sacrifices we are making as a family together. If ones choice to have children which they can’t afford, is it the governments fault? Nothing comes free in life, it all has to be paid for one way or the other. Something that many in Bermuda just don’t seem to understand, which is unfortunate to all.
I call for the PLP to return all the missing monies so that eduction funding can be restored. Sincerely Bermuda.
THE PLP CANT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND, OR DON’T WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CANT GET BLOOD FROM A STONE, THAT’S LIKE GOING TO THE BANK KNOWING YOU ONLY HAVE $100.00 IN YOU BANK ACCOUNT BUT YOU ARE DEMANDING THE BANK TO GIVE YOU $ 1,000.00, GET REAL.
It was the best of times
It was the worst of times
It was the age of wisdom
It was the age of foolishness
It was the epoch of incredulity
It was the season of light
It was the season of darkness
It was the spring of hope
It was the winter of despair
We had everything before us
We were all going direct to Heaven
We were all going direct the other way…
Brilliant idea Ms. Foggo. Brilliant.
What a brilliant display of PLP leadership and caring for the people. Keep pushing. PLP all the way and all the way PLP.
One thing though….how do we pay for it?
aceboy, don’t make me laugh my ass off. I was like really until I got to the end of your comment and busted out laughing.
We never worried before how we (the PLP) were going to pay for things, so why should we be worrying now?
cuz they aint in power thank the lord!
Eegrunce is bliss doe…
The defunct and failed plp need to educate their own leader first
Not only can he not talk and behave properly he now freely admits to giving his own 3 year old daughter marijuana AND states he cured her
asthma!
It amazes me,(and others I’m sure)of how the P.L.P. who are now on the other side of the room seem to have all the “right answers” to Bermudas problems
Granted Ms. Foggo, the suggestion you’d made would be “nice’ but where the hell are we,(Bda. Govt.) to get the monies from to make this dream come true?
MP Foggo may have a good idea but unfortunatly there’s no money like it used to be – she should ask the former PLP Premiers or
other PLP MP’S – were did all the money go!
Well said Mrs. Foggo.
“A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste” … remember that slogan from years back.
Well it is still very valuable today. This slogan has remained unchanged for more than thirty years. This phrase has become part of the American vernacular and is used widely by lay persons and educators alike to drive home the point of the necessity of education.
This needs to be the Bermuda Government’s slogan. The challenge now is will government recognize that a loan is not the same as a scholarship. The USA and the United Negro College Fund realized this many moons ago. Help our People to succeed is a nations effort and can not be itemized on a balance sheet. Reward educational excellence for our future generations with scholarships and awards not loan payments.
That is just not right to be intelligent and then have to “Pay to Play”.
Is the PLP going to come up with the funding for these scholarships because in case they have forgotten the country is broke? I guess if the PLP was in power they would hire all the unemployed as civil servants and put us further in debt. They would probably give away more freebies like they did in the past and make the situation worse. Their supporters would be happy though because they would have a job and free lunches etc. But unless the world came to an end within a couple of years we would all be screwed especially our children and grandchildren as they would be saddled with a huge debt which is too large already! Give me a break.
stop looking for handouts….as a mediocre student I paid my way 4 yrs without UBP assistance. stop teaching our children that they can’t make it otherwise.
We have heard this spun already by the PLP… old news
Restoring some form of loan program as the OBA is looking into is the way to go. In case you’ve forgotten Ms. Foggo – you guys spent all our money.
It is due to the overspending that things like this are cut. I’d rather see Ms Foggo realizing that and instead of complaining work to making it better by a. pointing to all the other scholarships that are available and b. campaigning to set up more scholarships.
That would be a much better use of time and make for a much more interesting statement……
A lot of you are a bunch of hypocrites.
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste”.
I guess if you keep telling the public we are broke while we spend and allocate our resources unwisely – you will get the support you need.
Beverly Hills will never go broke and neither will Bermuda with its residential millioners and billioner exempt companies. The last administration mismanaged our resources. This one is not that much smarter. This is why we should support education with the same energy as the USA and other great nations.
So stop preaching to the ignorant.
Stop using every situation to divide this country politically and socially. Commonsense needs to go beyond the politics.
IN CASE U DIDN’T KNOW …THE USA IS ONE OF THE DUMBEST COUNTRIES WORLD WIDE BY DESIGN…SO DON’T USE THEM AS AN EXAMPLE PLEASE.
But common sense doesnt seem to be so common in any of our political parties in this country.
Think about our country’s situation as if it were your own. Yes, i am sure that you would love to be able to send your kids to university, but if your lights are about to get shut off, along with your car being repossessed, and the bank calling and asking for their $12k for last months and this months mortgagee, where on earth do you suspect to find any more money??
We need to be teaching our youth how to “sacrifice” to get to where you want to go in life. No, we cannot all have what we want when we want it, but ill be damned if i am going to let someone stop from doing what i want if i know that it is attainable! Work hard, save harder and stop looking for someone to help you every step of the way!
During our haydays a few years back, the only thing our government taught us all to do, by way of following their example, was to spend spend and spend some more! Clearly, that is not the attitude we should be continuing on is it?
This is a hard matter to deal with. Even though I am an OBA supporter, I don’t support this decision to cut funding but I am also well aware of the lack of funds to pay for it.
what do we do? Do we ask for further MP salary pay cuts? So far no one has been appointed as the Premier’s inner working staff which gives us 300k or so back. Also the Education Commissioner has not been appointed. That’s another 100k. I suggest to the OBA hold on those appointments and fund the scholarships this year with that money.
I mean….why do we need an Education Commissioner anyway? No one ever agrees on the person who has the job and it’s always controversial.
I agree. There are all kinds of places where the government can shave off their budget to provide for grants and scholarships for our students. Each individual grant or scholarship does not have to be for the price of the entire bill, subsidies can be set up.
These days people cannot afford the vast sums of money that some of these schools demand. And it is both selfish and insensitive to demand that these poor working class parents take out large loans for their child’s education when there is uncertainty about the economy and future employment.
If your arguement is the uncertainty about the economy and future employment why should government be using borrowed money to fund scholarships and grants?
Securing loans for students is the right approach. Life comes with risks. Choose your field wisely, perform well and, if necessary, be prapared to persue your field outside of Bermuda.
Last week it was Burgess so this week it is is Foggo’s turn. They just don’t get it.
How about closing that expensive under-utilized first aid post? That would pay for a couple of scholarships.
Oh no, can’t do that. It has the ‘family name’ on it.
Didn’t I tell you
” A Mind is A Terrible Thing to Waste ”
And a lot of you bloggers provide it. Keep it real and stay focused and use some common sense.
The USA may not be listed top of the chart but it produces some great scholars. Maybe a few MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and Harvard graduates would take objection to your comments Sir PHd. Dr “keep it real .. 4real” I should of paid attention in school blogger.
Perhaps if we were all a bit less self-centered and selfish we would recognize that the future of this country is in the hands of ‘us’ young Bermudians and if ‘we’ are not educated who will run this country in the future.
Education is not a business and can not be run like one. No other country in the world can boast that their education system/programs are running a profit. Not funding education is another way of further dividing ‘us’ as a people.
Education is a way out (a better life) for many and we are no exception to this. Should we deny everyone an education and have a world run by choas? No! Instead we should invest in our future (invest being the key word) to ensure OUR future.
There is money out there, but people would have you believe otherwise, because in this world it is ok to marginalize the not so wealthy. Perhaps the tourism authority should not be and we use those funds to further educate our people not line the pockets of those that choose not to invest in our island/people. Just an example.
WHO REALLY CARES WHAT YOU ARE….EDUCATION SEES NO FACE, RACE, SEX, CULTURE or WEALTH. If we continue to grow the future of our country on the concept of money, TOGETHER, we will not prosper. Together we should embrace the ideal that all can receive a fair chance at education to ensure the betterment of our island.
“The striking thing about the United World Colleges is that they embrace the entire world across all divides of race, history, culture, wealth, religion, economic status and political belief.”
Nelson Mandela
We should embrace this ideal to make Bermuda a better place to ensure a good quality of life for our island.
A Proud United World College Graduate
Didn’t I tell you
” A Mind is A Terrible Thing to Waste ”
And a lot of you bloggers prove it.
Keep it real and stay focused and use some common sense.
The USA may not be listed top of the chart but it produces some great scholars. Maybe a few MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and Harvard graduates would take objection to your comments Sir PHd. Dr “KEEP IT REAL .. 4REAL” I SHOULD OF PAID ATTENTION INSCHOOL blogger.
The PLP spent all the money!! And now they keep saying we should pay for this this and this. How hypocritical. Do they really think Bermudians have memories that short??
Do us a favour, stop saying this is where we need to spend money, and start thinking up new ways to GENERATE money. Stop engaging in negative publicity about the country whcih is driving investment away, and use your influence in the unions to stop these wildcat strikes that again, are driving investment out of the country!!
Jingus they still would be blowing millions of dollars if they still were in power they don’t get it……..we broke
Imagine how many children could be given Scholarships with $800 million. Oh wait…….that just disappeared! Thanks PLP. Maybe we could borrow from the seller that the Opposition Leader used when his daughter was young. If he is still in business he must be loaded by now! Lol
The PLPbiu keep insisting that the Government (who found an empty bank vault that USED to contain all our treasure)is know being a “hateful” for doing something the PARENTS of these children were unwilling to do, namely to SACRIFICE for their children’s future.
Here’s an idea. The PLP should put up “Alaska Hall” as collateral to fund all seniors of 2014 to 2020 with FULL scholarships, and take Ms. Foggo’s suggestion that the students should not have to pay any money back for ten years after they graduate!
The PLP messed up education.
Actually you are wrong ‘College grad’. The UBP government messed up education when they changed our system, which was working, to a middle school system which was failing in other countries. They were advised against the change but they still went ahead with it. We marched on Parliament to protest the change but they still went ahead. So I suggest you get your facts straight before commenting on who ‘messed up’ the education system in Bermuda.
As I scrolled down this blog and read most posts, it was really sad to read the amount of propaganda comments being projected onto an article on education.
To OBA supporters, why have you bought the propaganda campaign that there is NO money left for education? And most lethal, you are either brainwashed and/or deliberately projecting an illiterate point of what your political party stands for and who we really are as Bermudians.
First, the argument is Bermuda’s ONLY capital investment is its people. We have NO natural materials and/or minerals coming out of the ground. We have NO manufacturing industry, NO farming industry that sustains the populace, and a tourism industry on life-support that cannot take us out of the debt in the foreseeable future. We must educate our fellow Bermudians because they are our ONLY resource, our only hope of prosperity together. In other words, you will not be able to rent your properties (at unconscionable rents to the expats) if we do not invest in Bermudians as a viable, stable, sustainable and permanent part of our workforce – they are our only natural resource.
You will NOT be able to go into future gaming casinos and throw away your hard earned money in the hope of good luck, if there is not a well educated workforce propelling the economy forward. And propelling our economy forward is ONLY sustainable on the back of a well educated workforce.
It should NOT even have to be stated that Bermuda is an extremely intricately woven economy. That if Bermudians are not well educated, you will be taking orders and/or instructions from expats, and they will eventually have enough financial clout to transform the Bermuda landscape. So OBA supporters, stop playing stupid – and I did say PLAYING because in the end Bermudians will be caught on the back foot. Unless of course, you want to be answerable to expats rather than your fellow Bermudians. But then at rate of our political assassinations (no, let’s exchange that word with brawls) there may not be anyone left standing BUT expats – how sad.
Stop and look deeply into the real picture here, a strong thriving economy gets two pillars of the economy right, education and healthcare. A government who successfully balances these two pillars lay a healthy foundation and intertwining these two pillars is the fiscal management of the economy. We are not broke, far from, but it does not stop OBA supporters from blasting out a loud propaganda campaign, reread the comments on this blog, you come in drones. Yes we are financially hurting, but where were your voices when the PLP driving the economy? Where were you then? Exercising your democratic right in silence?
Question, is the real opposition by OBA and their supporters to restoring the education funding for fellow Bermudians mired in the fact that more black Bermudians will need this type of assistance than white Bermudians? And the propaganda of “we have no money” the disguise to slam the door in their faces? It is beginning to look and feel like a covert way to undermine our future generations with a politically driven taint.
But please PLP supporters stay out of the comment above. Some comments made by you set back race relations in Bermuda by generations. And you do it just to “whine up” the volume. Stop undermining our future.
And to the shortsighted and/or individuals with short attention spans, an Education Commissioner is needed to revive, restore and reinvigorate the public education system. There cannot be public outcry that public education does not work, then when the Education Ministry attempts to implement innovations, we, the public, claim there is no need for innovations (by way of a new Commissioner). Granted, MoE have not had the best start, but see it as a blip rather than the first opportunity to close out and/or close down the opportunity to mount real change.
London, England
“Yes we are financially hurting, but where were your voices when the PLP driving the economy? Where were you then? Exercising your democratic right in silence?”……EXACTLY……NAIL ON tHE HEAD!!
Usually I agree with ms Akinstall but not in this case.
…..”Yes we are financially hurting, but where were your voices when the PLP driving the economy? Where were you then? Exercising your democratic right in silence?”……
Ms Akinstall: Each time someone tried to speak up against the PLP they were accused of being racist and nearly always intimidated into silence.
At least now we live in a society where someone can disagree with the ruling party without the risk of complete ruin.
Flatts, Bermuda
Ms. Foggo needs to make up her mind. When she came canvassing at my home, she had a discussion with my eighteen year old daughter who was voting for the first time. I guess it hurt her pride (as a former teacher) having to grovel to a young person, but I found her attitude towards my daughter very troubling. Whenever my daughter made a suggestion (more scholarship opportunities being one of them), Ms. Foggo would brush it off and demand, “You do know how government gets money right? Somebody has to pay for all these ideas of yours.” I found that she was very belittling in the way she handled a young person whose vote she needed.
I thought maybe it was just me, but when she left my daughter came right out and said, “I don’t like her. She didn’t even listen to what I had to say.” I never asked my daughter who she voted for, as that was her own personal business, but I would bet any amount of money it WASN’T for Lovita Foggo.
Foggo’ just vocal because her party’s not in power. If it were…CRICKET’S!!
The fact that the OBA sponsored 1 Million taxpayer dollars to fund a corporate sporting event held in early 2013, only goes to show that they find money for what they want. They have no vested interest in the Bermudian, and therefore support those that support their anti- bermudian agenda. Fortunately for the OBA , bermudians have very short memories and even shorter attention spans. This allows for quick news cycles and accusations of corruption blow away like farts in the wind. No accountability have plagued this country since its incorporation, like it or not Bermuda was formed as a business and still continues to operate that way to this day.
Miss Akinstall I agree with you totally ; we have no other resource except our people and if we as a country are not willing to invest in them-well?
That is the one thing that I hold against my country and that is it’s refusal to fully invest in it’s people. I come from a generation that fully understands this because as a young person growing up in this country I experience it and in the 60′s and 70′s it made me a rebel and even now in the year 2014 I still feel there still a struggle that has to be engaged in for my country does not represent me; my country still need reform.
Speaking of reform where I we going to get the money to fully invest in Bermuda’s future? Our tax system needs reform and it is long over due. In regard to the mindset of some in this country; which unfortunately is reflected in this current government; there is a feeling that we must continue to bring people in from overseas rather than fully utilizing our own potential and that is to be found in our people. So the struggle continue for as a Bermudian I will never accept the mindset that I characterize as an attempt to create a Bermuda without the Bermudian.
I would like both parties to consider the issue of educational standards before any funding is restored. We need to ensure the the institutions our kids attend are if not always Ivy League or equivalent at least competent to instruct what is expected and needed. I’ve interviewed a hell of a lot degree holders through the years who just do not have what it takes – often funded by the Bermuda Government (even back in the UBP days). Sadly, the only people these kids end up fooling is themselves and perhaps their parents.
Exactly #Gotham. It’s unfortunate that some parents work 2 and 3 jobs to send their child to a sub-standard College and think the child should come out and get the same job as someone who attends an Ivy. The Big accounting, law, Int Business firms won’t even look at anyone who didn’t graduate from an Ivy or Oxford/Cambridge. Parents would be better off spending their money on sending their child to a decent Private School or even away to Boarding School early so that child has a better chance of a scholarship to an Ivy. Unless and until the Public education system here gets better, we’re all in trouble.
Thank you Mrs.Akinstall. Your comments are spot on and it would be a very good educational boost if you could speak to the Bermudians who have become so brainwashed through politics.
Valirie Marcia Akinstall says:
June 3, 2014 at 7:18 am
As I scrolled down this blog and read most posts, it was really sad to read the amount of propaganda comments being projected onto an article on education.
To OBA supporters, why have you bought the propaganda campaign that there is NO money left for education? And most lethal, you are either brainwashed and/or deliberately projecting an illiterate point of what your political party stands for and who we really are as Bermudians.
First, the argument is Bermuda’s ONLY capital investment is its people. We have NO natural materials and/or minerals coming out of the ground. We have NO manufacturing industry, NO farming industry that sustains the populace, and a tourism industry on life-support that cannot take us out of the debt in the foreseeable future. We must educate our fellow Bermudians because they are our ONLY resource, our only hope of prosperity together. In other words, you will not be able to rent your properties (at unconscionable rents to the expats) if we do not invest in Bermudians as a viable, stable, sustainable and permanent part of our workforce – they are our only natural resource.
You will NOT be able to go into future gaming casinos and throw away your hard earned money in the hope of good luck, if there is not a well educated workforce propelling the economy forward. And propelling our economy forward is ONLY sustainable on the back of a well educated workforce.
It should NOT even have to be stated that Bermuda is an extremely intricately woven economy. That if Bermudians are not well educated, you will be taking orders and/or instructions from expats, and they will eventually have enough financial clout to transform the Bermuda landscape. So OBA supporters, stop playing stupid – and I did say PLAYING because in the end Bermudians will be caught on the back foot. Unless of course, you want to be answerable to expats rather than your fellow Bermudians. But then at rate of our political assassinations (no, let’s exchange that word with brawls) there may not be anyone left standing BUT expats – how sad.
Stop and look deeply into the real picture here, a strong thriving economy gets two pillars of the economy right, education and healthcare. A government who successfully balances these two pillars lay a healthy foundation and intertwining these two pillars is the fiscal management of the economy. We are not broke, far from, but it does not stop OBA supporters from blasting out a loud propaganda campaign, reread the comments on this blog, you come in drones. Yes we are financially hurting, but where were your voices when the PLP driving the economy? Where were you then? Exercising your democratic right in silence?
Question, is the real opposition by OBA and their supporters to restoring the education funding for fellow Bermudians mired in the fact that more black Bermudians will need this type of assistance than white Bermudians? And the propaganda of “we have no money” the disguise to slam the door in their faces? It is beginning to look and feel like a covert way to undermine our future generations with a politically driven taint.
But please PLP supporters stay out of the comment above. Some comments made by you set back race relations in Bermuda by generations. And you do it just to “whine up” the volume. Stop undermining our future.
And to the shortsighted and/or individuals with short attention spans, an Education Commissioner is needed to revive, restore and reinvigorate the public education system. There cannot be public outcry that public education does not work, then when the Education Ministry attempts to implement innovations, we, the public, claim there is no need for innovations (by way of a new Commissioner). Granted, MoE have not had the best start, but see it as a blip rather than the first opportunity to close out and/or close down the opportunity to mount real change.
London, England
I am very encouraged by the level and focus of the debate since my post. It goes to show that Bermudians are very willing to engage in debates to bring forth cogent, articulate and/or honest answers of what is possible and what should be done in the interest of investing in our exclusive natural resource – Bermudians.
I am encouraged by the fact that young people are not just actively listening to their political reps, but engaging them in debates of what is important to YOU. You have a vested interest in this country and you should have your say to probe, compare, contrast, analyse and then take the time (as long as you need) to make up your mind about who is representing YOU in the House of Parliament. Your political party of choice does not call the political shots – YOU do, and you owe it to yourself to have the best representative working on your behalf. If you are unimpressed with your political rep let the party leader know and the reasons why. If s/he does not know what your concerns are in your area, cannot be bothered and/or attempts to lecture you as your public servant, why are you not pushing for change, change in who they nominate to represent you.
@ J Herald..I will take your comments as a very positive step forward. Why? Because I am willing to wipe the slate clean and look at what the OBA’s does henceforth that eradicates the final remnants of political intimidation and financial ruin. We (Bermuda) have a very strong long history of this politically destructive activity, and ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. So, let’s observe, with a microscopic lens, if Michael Dunkley accomplishes this for the next election. It does not have to be an OBA election pledge but rather Bermudians will be able to know what is happening politically and who is caught in the crossfires. And we should judge politicians by their actions on that front.
@ Questionable…I take your point as an honest and valid observation; for there are times when I read of projects embarked upon by politicians that seriously concern me, such as, where is the money coming from for this Minister’s pet project? Where do the funds come from if we are broke? Example, our bid for the Americas Cup, excellent project that will automatically produce worldwide marketing and PR for Bermuda – if we land this very prestige event. But, where will the Government pull its funds from to meet the costs? Especially if corporate Bermuda does not buy in with millions of dollars in sponsorship? And the money will be taken from where in the Ministry of Economic Development budget? Or will the Minister of Finance simply hand the Minister of Economic Development the additional funds? The problem here is that discretionary funds come into play when a Minister makes a valid and worthwhile request for additional funding for a pet project. So, hypothetically speaking, the Americas Cup will have more value to Bermuda, albeit very short term value, but university grants for students hold no value in the foreseeable short and/or long term future of Bermuda? Dr Grant Gibbons, I have read from one of your interviews that your taste in music has evolved due to your teens and that you do, on occasion, listen to Eminem’s music, so as he would rap, “I’m just not feeling you here!”
@ Gotham…if your comments will assist in restoring funding for university education, I will cry a resounding yes! But remember that individuals will aspire to their passions in life as much as what they are able to do to put food on the table. So many creative degrees are not a perfect fit in corporate Bermuda, but how would you know that that individual does not possess the skill set to be successful in corporate Bermuda? If you discount them at the gate based upon their degree not being a perfect fit, then what proof do you have that they would have failed at the job? Where is the evidence of failure, if they were never chosen to begin with? I’m just questioning the legitimacy of your rationale that they will fail, where is the evidence of failure other than you did not give them an opportunity? And for accuracy, the word “fail” is being used by me not you in your post.
London, England