PRO-CHANCELLOR of the University of Guyana Dr. Prem Misir  and others have been saying that there should be no increase in tuition fees despite the fact that the UG Students Society feels that there should be increased fees under certain conditions.

The Pro-Chancellor’s position needs to be seriously reconsidered for the following reasons:
(i) Eighty per cent of the UG graduates emigrate taking with them the massive subsidy of $250,000 per annum for each student. In other words, the Guyanese taxpayer is required to subsidise other countries to the tune of billions of dollars. This never-ending call on the Guyanese taxpayer to subsidise other countries to the tune of billions of dollars shows a callous irresponsibility to both public funds and also to the raising of standards of the University.
(ii) The initial fees were set at US$1,000 per annum very many years ago which at the time converted at $127,000. The University Council failed to do the necessary conversion when the Guyana dollar was further devalued. This inexplicable lapse on the part of the Council over so many years should make them liable to be surcharged as would have happened in the case of Public Servants. The public is owed an explanation for this unbelievable lapse on the part of the UG council.
(iii) Foreign donors to the University would be inhibited from making substantial donations to the University if they realise that their money is ultimately going to be spent on other countries and not Guyana.