U$10M contracts awarded for enhancing UG output

THE Ministry of Education yesterday handed over two contracts for the execution of the University of Guyana (UG) Science and Technology Support Project (UGSTSP).They are aimed at rehabilitating 14 laboratories at UG and the reformation of the curricula in the faculties of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Science, Technology and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The US$10M cost is being funded by the World Bank through credit which was secured by the Guyana Government.
The undertakings will seek to improve the quality of facilities at the university, improve infrastructure and assist in researching the Low Carbon Development areas.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion yesterday, UG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi acknowledged the fact that the institution is lagging behind in infrastructure, technology and facilities.
He said this programme is being undertaken to enhance the quality of education provided at Turkeyen and will support online degree programmes, further improve the physical environment and ensure that the infrastructure is safe, clean and healthy.

Significant role
Also present was Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand, who admitted that tertiary education plays a significant role in the development of any country.
She posited that, if Guyana is to develop rapidly, “we must ensure that UG is fully prepared to put out people who will contribute to national development.”
“Thus, proper facilities are needed for training of these individuals,” the minister said, reiterating that UG is well poised for development but every department, every lecturer and students must make sure they all play their independent roles so quality output can be the end result.
“UG must be a place environmentally and physically capable of putting qualified students into the world. We will do what we have to, to put students out there who are competent in the wider world,” she said.
Manickchand explained that this project is a manifestation of the Government playing its role in a tangible way.
On that note, she referred to the presence and efforts of the consultants and said they had gone through a competitive process of bidding and have satisfied the World Bank.

High quality
The minister gave assurance that the output of graduates will be of high quality because what will be put out into the country starts at the University level.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) Consulting Inc. was awarded a US$499,243 contract to coordinate and supervise the reform of 15 Bachelor’s Degree programmes.
In addition to that, an Italian/Guyanese joint venture, Hydea, in association with RPA Rossiprodi and sub-consultant CEMCO was contracted to do civil works at the cost of US$368,014.
Through this rehabilitative process, the physical appearance of the laboratories will be enhanced, water and electrical systems are expected to be improved and air- conditioning and new furniture will be included.