-opposition objects
Amid a flurry of objections from the opposition, the government on Tuesday morning used its majority in Parliament to affirm the University of Guyana (UG) Amendment Order 2024 to expand UG’s council.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand presented the motion to amend the University of Guyana Act.
The order, she said, sought to increase the number of council members from 26 to 32 and add new representatives from various organizations including young people. Manickchand emphasized that this move is intended to give effect to Article 13 of the Constitution, which aims to establish an inclusive democracy by providing opportunities for citizens and their organizations to participate in decision-making processes.
The minister also highlighted the importance of involving young people in decision-making processes and said that the world has moved away from the idea that children should be seen but not heard. She noted that young people should be able to influence decisions made on their behalf and participate actively in those decisions.
Manickchand emphasized that the amendment is intended to make the university more inclusive and representative of Guyanese society as a whole.
In addition to the Trades Union Congress, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana will now be able to make a nomination. There will also be a representative each from Christian, Muslim and Hindu organisations.
Whereas the minister was previously able to appoint three persons, she can now appoint six.
When it was her turn, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Coretta McDonald, argued against the motion, stating that it is a further attempt by the government to exert control over the university and undermine its autonomy. She charged that the motion seeks to give the Minister arbitrary power to appoint members to the University Council and allows for political interference in academic decisions.
McDonald further argued that the government’s track record shows a consistent pattern of controlling and manipulating institutions, including the University of Guyana. In this regard, she mentioned specific instances, such as the refusal to sign a World Bank loan for the university and the allocation of a large sum of money to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme, which she believes is a way for the government to exert control over the university.
McDonald also argued that the amendment contradicts international trends and principles of institutional autonomy, citing examples from other countries where universities are autonomous and independent. She warned that politicization of education can have serious consequences, including eroding public trust, stifling innovation and limiting academic freedom.
McDonald said that the inclusion of Amerindians and youth in the amendment was a mere attempt to co-opt them into supporting the government’s agenda. She expressed the belief that true representation and participation must come from meaningful involvement in decision-making processes, rather than simply being included on a council.
Following McDonald’s critique of the government’s attempt to exert control over UG and its alleged disregard for institutional autonomy and academic freedom, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson rebutted. He argued for the motion to be passed, while other MPs from the Opposition, like Sherod Duncan and Ganesh Mahipaul, followed McDonald’s lead.
After much back and forth and after the voting process which saw the ruling party having a narrow majority of “ayes”, the motion was passed in favour of the government. The parliamentary opposition had urged the government to send the matter to a Special Select Committee for further scrutiny before voting on it.
As a result of this parliamentary move, the university’s governing council will now change from having 26 to 32 members. The order was issued on June 26, 2024, and published in the official gazette on June 27, 2024.
On Sunday, the PNCR condemned the move by the government to expand the council.
It said: “Guyanese must condemn the recent blatant moves by the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Education, to grab control of the Council of the University of Guyana, the highest governing body of the university. The PNCR pledges here and now that, as the next government, we will reverse or neutralize these and all other measures that subvert the administrative and academic independence of the university.
“The measures in question involve changes to the composition of the University Council, where the PPP and its allies will now have a majority on the council by increasing their nominees and appointees by eight and reducing the number of nominees by the Chancellor of the University from six to four”.
