–over hike in tuition fees

PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has expressed support for the ongoing public consultations with University of Guyana students in regard to a hike in tuition fees.

During a press conference held Saturday at State House, the President commented on the recent student consultations held for tuition increase, and cautioned thus, “As far as the increase in fees (is concerned), we have to study it very carefully, because we don’t want to deny anyone…that has the talent and qualification to move ahead [out of having] a tertiary education.”

On the question of increasing Government’s subvention to the University of Guyana (UG), the President disclosed that any decision in this regard should first be discussed at the level of the UG Administration before it reaches the Office of the President.

President Ramotar was particularly concerned on this point. He noted that although he may have his own recommendations for the University on, “how we could…develop some of the skills that we badly need”, specialist input on matters affecting the University’s delivery should be had, so that a “full discussion” would be effective in determining the way forward.

The Head of State asserted that the programmes which have been provided for from the Contingencies Fund in the first Financial Paper of 2014 are not only important to national development, but are also necessary for the welfare of the Guyanese people.

The first financial paper for 2014 has listed expenditures to be utilised for the payment of additional stipends and tuition fees for Government of Guyana-sponsored students.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, through a $4.6B financial paper, had restored $225M to the University of Guyana’s student loan fund. This sum, however, represents only half of the originally allocated sum of $450M.

The loan subvention, which was provided for under the Loan Agency of the Ministry of Finance, was cut from the 2014 budgetary estimates by the combined Opposition — A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

UG Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Jacob Opadeyi, in a prior interview, had noted that if the loan subvention for the University of Guyana is not restored by the National Assembly, the students would be placed in a dire situation as a result of the severe crisis that would be experienced at the tertiary institution if the decision to cut the subvention was not reversed.
The VC, at the time, was hinting at the inevitable increase of student tuition, which has been compounded by the failure of the National Assembly to provide student loans for current and prospective students who were not in the best of financial circumstances to afford their tertiary education.

The University of Guyana Senior-Staff Association (UGSSA), in a battle with the UG administration, has asserted that the governing body of the university must devise a plan which would see restoration of the $450M student loan subvention, thus offsetting the looming call for the increase in tuition.

President of the UGSSA, Dr. Patsy Francis, had urged that the UG administration as well as the Council of the University, of which the Vice-Chancellor is an integral member, ought to lobby the relevant politicians to have provisions made for supplementary funding to the Ministry of Finance’s Loan Agency, in order to curtail the looming impasse.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/Alliance For Change (AFC), together in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly, during the 2014 budget debates, voted against funding for several Ministry of Finance programmes, including the $450M allocated to the University for student loans.

Over the years, a vast majority of the student population at the country’s premier tertiary institution has benefited from student loans; and a large percentage of prospective and current tertiary-level students depend on the said loan in order to assist in furthering their educational development in order that they might make substantial contributions to the country’s development.

The University of Guyana administration, on Tuesday, held consultations with the students of the University on the impending hike in tuition fees. Although there was not an exuberant turnout, the Vice Chancellor outlined the current crisis faced by the University, since its expenditure far surpasses its income.

President of the University of Guyana Students Society, Mr. Richard Rambarran, in an invited comment after those consultations, noted that there was a general consensus that the University is in a position where it would prove unsustainable if certain adjustments were now made.

He indicated that although these increases are inevitable, the student representatives had attempted to broker an arrangement with the administration which would prevent current students enrolled at the University from paying an increase throughout the remainder of their degree programmes. According to him, this decision still remains uncertain, since the administration might approve or disapprove of the proposals.

He disclosed that student concerns were aired to the management of the University in regard to a structural adjustment in the management, and whether this would allow for a more effective management system.

(By Derwayne Wills)