Dear Editor,
THE Kaieteur News columnist, Freddie Kissoon, wrote a scathing article on the sad state of affairs at UG and suggested, as an option, that UWI absorb it, albeit, with some options (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2022/07/17/ug-is-symptomatic-of-the-permanent-tragedy-of-guyana/). This suggestion, made perhaps through desperation, is not viable for a country in economic transition. A reputable university is a citadel of a civilised, progressive country.  Countries and their citizens gain recognition and take pride from having world-class universities. In the UK, Cambridge and Oxford universities; in the USA, the Ivy League Universities; in India, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and in Singapore, the National University of Singapore, are outstanding examples. From Mr Kissoon’s article, it is regrettable that an institution that produced some world-class, highly accomplished Guyanese has been allowed to deteriorate to this level.  But, it is not too late to transform it.  In fact, the government identified education as a sector to receive significant funding from the sale of oil and gas. Therefore, the transformation of UG as a vibrant 21st century tertiary educational institution demands political will and public engagement. It may require, by analogy, capsizing the boat and righting it with a new captain and crew.

The governing and administrative structure of UG follows that of the colonial master, the British.  This structure, in UG’s case, is confrontational with politics rather than intellectual pursuits in control.  UG needs a complete restructuring.  The stakeholders (Government, Faculty, UG administration and governing bodies) seem to have their own interests with no common vision and, based on Mr Kissoon’s article, absolutely no passion for building a reputable, tertiary educational institution. The government is the financier and the country needs qualified persons in a number of disciplines for its rapid development.  The government should take bold action, such as institutional restructuring and creating a holistic, educational system where creativity, innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving and understanding the connectedness of all things in the cosmos (perhaps, humanities and spirituality) are central (https://guyanachronicle.com/2022/05/15/transforming-education-requires-decolonisation/).

The government is pursuing rapid development in many sectors of the economy with a dearth of locally qualified Guyanese.  The government should do a complete reset of UG to produce Guyanese with the skill sets for the ongoing and planned developmental projects.   Countries such as the USA, India, Singapore and China are good examples to learn how to create and/or repurpose tertiary educational institutions that can respond to human capacity building for rapid economic development. Sending Guyanese abroad in different countries to obtain, at least, a first degree is not a solution for the current and anticipated needs of the country.  Local human capacity has to be built locally and UG can do it only if the stakeholders are on the same page. Education is a business.  It is a commodity with high, potential value if the quality is high and the company is reputable.  The management and operations of universities in the 21st century have to be like corporations, with break-even as the financial bottom line. Leadership, highly qualified productive staff, flexibility, and skilful marketing are essential to ensure quality and value.

Mr Kissoon also proposed two alternatives: “Accredit School of the Nations to offer first degrees in the humanities and social sciences in collaboration with other universities, or allow another university to operate.” These alternatives are also not viable. In the USA, private universities (a good example is the University of Phoenix) are profit-making corporations that primarily service corporate America.  They make money (lots of it) from US Student Aid programmes and students’ loans. Private universities in other countries follow suit. A Public-Private-Partnership is a potentially workable solution. In this case, the government will have a say on areas of education to meet its workforce needs.

Mr Kissoon, a graduate of UG, is stationed in the local environment and has witnessed the lethargy that has become part of the fabric of some sections of the Guyanese community. The writer, also a graduate of UG, is making an objective, distant plea to revitalise the only institution for higher education in Guyana to serve the country as it transitions to a developed economy and beyond. It would indeed be a shame and a sad day if UG were to disappear from failure of the stakeholders to recognise its importance and value to Guyana, and make the effort for UG to be an outstanding 21st century tertiary educational institution.   Let there be a celebration, rather than Freddie’s “a poetic funeral.”

Yours sincerely,
Dr Muniram Budhu
Professor Emeritus

.