-in protest of neglect
The University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) has called on the student body to demonstrate its frustration with the persistent neglect of issues facing students by boycotting all economic activities on the Turkeyen campus today.
UGSS President Sherod Duncan referred to the proposed action as “simple acts of civil disobedience” aimed at effecting change that is urgently needed. He said the society has tabled a string of concerns before the University of Guyana (UG) Academic Board and UG Council “for years to no avail” and to a regurgitated response which has failed.
Duncan said the university’s administration has repeatedly pointed to the budgetary issues, but he said someone has to be accountable to the students. “We don’t believe the issues are trivial, we believe they are critical and ultimately affect the quality of education which is offered here,” he said, stressing that students have and continue to demand better services.
He said UGSS has approached UG’s administration with civility, noting there can be no solutions if the good working relationship which currently exists between the student body and the administration is disrupted. Duncan asserted the society is there to safeguard the interest of every student registered and according to him, students are simply frustrated. He said the issues are many including the conditions of the dormitories; eating facilities; the lack of an environment conducive for research and security concerns.
“…The time has come for us to move from potential to performance. Are we performing at the level which is desired and when are we going to start if not now?” Duncan questioned. He said no decision was taken to cut classes and cautioned students against this move “until we would have decided anything further.”
Speaking on some of the problems on campus, he said there is a dire need for a state-of-the-art multimedia system and proper ventilation facilities in the main lecture theatres. He noted the administration of grades in a timely manner is a major problem, saying too that remuneration issues among lecturers and the administration is affecting when grades are released. The human resources problem has been a long running issue, Duncan stated, noting that both the Turkeyen and Tain campuses are affected. “How qualified are the people who are qualifying us?” he asked, noting also that students have questions about the academic qualifications of their educators. He noted that some lecturers are turning up late for classes and pushing back lectures regularly. “I am in one of those classes and that lecturer is perpetually late all the time,” he said, adding that classes are being cancelled arbitrarily.
He said the library needs attention and pointed out the need for wireless internet facilities to be spread across the campus and made available to every student. Duncan said students are not seeking lip service on the issues but are demanding that they are addressed. “What I find troubling is the fact that I have inherited these issues and so did several of my predecessors. There must be some real movement, which is what we need to see,” Duncan said, adding that the students are expecting nothing less.
