-as it ‘assiduously’ addresses concerns
The University of Guyana (UG) has issued a statement in an effort to clarify what it said is the current situation in response to the plethora of inquiries regarding the announcement by President Irfaan Ali in Guyana of free tuition at the University of Guyana.
The university took the opportunity to assert that it welcomes and supports quality free tuition at the University and wherever else it can be sustainably offered, while disclosing that it has made no other determinations subsequent to those already made in regard to this year’s graduation planned for November 7 to 9, and November 16.
The release noted that recent developing conditions surrounding interpretations by students and others about free tuition has produced some conditions which must be addressed urgently. It assured that some of these matters concerning implementation modalities and the paying over of fees owed by prospective graduates and continuing students to the university are being “assiduously” addressed by the appropriate offices of the University and the Government of Guyana.
This, it explained, is so that all eligible students can graduate on time and the operations of the university for which fees have always been needed can continue uninterrupted until January 2025, when this first semester officially ends. The release informed that in support of government’s generous promises of free tuition, UG has extended itself for the past four years by allowing thousands of students to attend and successfully complete their studies without fully paying fees. As such, it contended that there is no routine reason why the graduations of students already planned would be withheld by the same institution which has nurtured them for all this time. However, it was quick to point out that revenue from fees cover more than 50 per cent of UG’s operating expenses and are always “desperately needed” towards the end of the year.
“The University of Guyana therefore wishes to assure its stakeholders that all possible avenues are being pursued to ensure the operations and best interests of everyone, most importantly those of our 3,500 prospective graduates are satisfied in the coming week, the release added.
