The University of Guyana (UG) has expressed concern and regret over a recent letter to Stabroek News penned by an anonymous law student complaining of the failure of the Faculty of Law to issue a grade for a course completed.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the university disclosed that through the Department of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences, it has collectively apologised to the affected students and assured the Vice-Chancellor once again that the series of unfortunate circumstances which have led to this inexcusable situation will be rectified by the beginning of next week.
The letter to the editor had described the situation as not only frustrating but deeply troubling, “as it reflects a recurring problem that disproportionately affects students taking Criminal Law courses.” It also accused the university administration of a complete lack of accountability, noting that students who voice their concerns are often ignored or given vague responses. “Many of us have reached out to the administration for clarification, only to be met with endless runarounds. Even the Vice Chancellor, upon being informed of this issue, was unable to offer any resolution.”
In its defence, the release noted that UG hosts over 2,500 courses per semester, and over 5,000 courses a year, 94 per cent of which are graded and posted on time. However, it did acknowledge that for various reasons, some grades may still be late, but assured that such gaps are continually being investigated and addressed. This as the university’s Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Engagement, responsible for quality assurance, perfects its systems and faculty-level oversight.
It would appear however, that in describing the missive as an “unfortunate illogical leap from a single instance to impugn the entire law programme made by the anonymous letter writer,” the University of Guyana, is challenging the letter’s assertion that missing grades are “a recurring problem” and not a one-off as the release suggests.
Regarding the letter’s admonition that such “failure to uphold basic administrative responsibilities not only undermines the university’s credibility but also jeopardizes the future of its students. And its concern, “I fear that the region will begin to perceive us as unprofessional or incompetent if these matters are not resolved before the law school officially opens its doors,” the release reminded that Guyanese students frequently rank among the top graduates at Hugh Wooding, securing prizes and honours for their academic achievements. In fact, graduates of its law programme have consistently performed in the top 10 of the Hugh Wooding Law School over the last 10 years.
This, it posited, is because the University of Guyana’s law programme consistently provides a solid foundation for students, preparing them well for the rigours of legal education at Hugh Wooding at the lowest possible cost regionally.
