Commenting on the allocation of funds to our education system in the budget announcement, SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan noted that despite the low fertility rates, our government still placed great emphasis on education. She believed that our government is well aware that school fees are not cheap, and that students from lower income families may miss out on opportunities to learn due to their financial situations. Prof Straughan added that the $200m that has been allocated to education can be seen as a promise by the government to present equal opportunities to those who are willing to work hard and show results, despite their situation.