STUDENTS have indicated that free education, from nursery to tertiary, is something they would like to see implemented in Guyana since it will allow for more citizens to become educated and productive members of the country.

On Emancipation Day, President David Granger made known that his aim to restore the right to free education, in accordance with the Constitution.

Article 27 of the Constitution of Guyana states: “Every citizen has the right to a free education from nursery to university, as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”

This article falls in Chapter II, which connotes the principles and basis of the political, economic and social system. Also detailed in this section is every person’s right to sovereignty, the right to own personal property, the right to free health and social care, inter alia.

“As a student of the University of Guyana, I have quoted Article 27 to many of my lecturers, especially when tuition fees went up recently,” current student of the University of Guyana (UG), Vanessa Fredericks told Guyana Chronicle. As a result, she said, the idea of free education is one she certainly welcomes.

Brian Peters, a new student of the University who will commence studies in the new semester, affirmed that making education free would be “a good investment.”

“With the now free education, persons who are not capable of finishing their studies can now do so. We’re not all equally privileged so those in a lower financial state can capture this with ease,” he said.

Moreover, he noted that this will result in greater human resource potential for the country, which should mean that the society will be a much better place.

Peters; however, said that introducing free education once more should be something that is done strategically. He opined that the government should also direct more focus towards the entrepreneurial sector so that more jobs can be created to cater for more qualified persons.

“I think that it is a good idea that the President wants to make education free in accordance with the Constitution,” another incoming UG student, Ruth Manbodh said.

But even though this is a good long-term investment for Guyana, she stressed that it is one which must have support from all of the political parties.

STRATEGIC FOCUS
Alongside President Granger’s commitment to free education, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo indicated that he strongly supports the idea of no tuition at the university but noted it will most likely happen if the coalition is elected to a second term in government.

Even leader of the newly-formed Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman had indicated his support for the ‘Free UG’ movement, at a walkout exercise held at UG’s Turkeyen campus in April. Then, Shuman opined that all political leaders should meet with the students and the advocates for free tertiary education in a meaningful manner and let their position on the topic be known.

This walkout was organised by an informal group of young people who banded together, earlier this year, into what is called the “Free University of Guyana Movement” in collaboration with UG’s Student Society.

Member of the movement, Elson Lowe, told this newspaper that the group is advocating that a portion of oil revenues be used to make education at the university free once again.

Guyana, under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, offered free education from nursery to university. However, today, only education offered from nursery to secondary is free.

DESERVING PRAISE
“We applaud the President for upholding the rights of all Guyanese, in particular Guyana’s youth and we look forward to presenting our proposals regarding how the university can be made once more a free institution,” Lowe said in response to the President’s commitment to making tertiary education free once more.

He mentioned that the group would have already conducted some amount of polling, consultations and research regarding the best ways to remove tuition fees. As such, when the proposals are submitted, the ‘Free UG’ group intends on seeing some policy changes at UG.

A current Communications Studies student of UG, who wished to remain anonymous, said however that making tertiary education free once more is something that should have been made a reality years ago.

“As a current student, I view it as something that should’ve been considered earlier from the many revenue producing resources of Guyana, since oil is not the only potentially lucrative industry of this country. However, it is better late than never,” he said.

He also said that the government should work to “inspire faith” in students and should not wait until the oil revenues begin amassing.