Dear Editor,
With respect to the students’ loan applications at the University of Guyana (UG), I think it is unfair that some of the programmes were never advertised as being “cash only.” It was only after the students started submitting applications for loans to commence studies that they were told that no loans were available for those programmes. The courses I am referring to are optometry, pharmacy and rehabilitative services – all of which come under the health sciences faculty.
Information from the UG administration points to the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh as the person who is responsible for approving the granting of these loans.
Editor, I have two relatives attending UG, both in the same faculty and although they have already started classes they are not sure if they would be able to continue.
Coming from humble families, they are in a situation where they would not be able to pay for the courses except through loans. Please note, that they are both brilliant students to have got into that faculty in the first place, and it is a shame that they would have to quit because they cannot afford to pay cash for the courses.
We are now seeking the urgent intervention of the Minister and/or maybe President Bharrat Jagdeo in this matter.
The President advocates educational development, but it would appear as though there is some degree of discrimination against certain programmes of studies.
Most, if not all the programmes have a loan portfolio attached, so why is it that the same does not apply to the aforementioned programmes?
To me, this seems to be a slap in the face for what I may consider disadvantaged students and needs to be dealt with urgently to avoid unnecessary embarrassment to them.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
