UG tuition fee hike...“No crisis in sight”- Registrar

UG tuition fee hike…“No crisis in sight”- Registrar

Aug 06, 2014 News

By Sharmain Grainger

Despite some concerns from students regarding the recent hike in tuition fee at the University of Guyana, Registrar at the tertiary institution, Vincent Alexander, does not foresee any problematic developments.
The increase in the fee was implemented mainly as an adjustment to the US$1,000 (per academic year) that was pegged as the standard fee more than a decade ago.

UG Registrar, Vincent Alexander

Moreover, the adjustment, which is set to take effect from the new academic year in September, will see most programmes at the University attracting a standard fee of $210,000 while a few others will have varying costs.
Ahead of the implementation of the adjusted fee, most students were required to pay $127,000 as the standard tuition fee. However, the increased fee will be applicable in full to new students, while continuing students will pay it at an incremental rate.
Continuing Guyanese students will pay an incremented increase beginning with $130,000 in 2014, $145,000 in 2015 and $160,000 in 2016, in addition to the $50,000 Facilities Fee, which replaces the various miscellaneous fees, previously paid.
The University recently issued a detailed hike in fees which also includes that for foreign students.
According to Alexander, with the adjustment in place, the University, which has held a cash-strapped status for a protracted period, will be poised for much needed transformation.
“I have said in the past that in the first instance, what this increase will do is stabilise this University that has been experiencing difficulties in terms of its indebtedness, and that stability is important,” the Registrar said during an interview yesterday.
He vocalised his conviction that stability will even be instrumental in helping to boost the institution in many ways. According to him, with the Facilities Fee in hand, for instance, the University will be able to undertake specific tasks such as improvement to classrooms and other facilities which will help to better the quality of programmes delivered to students.
STUDENTS’ CONCERNS
Although expressing his belief that there have been no potential problematic concerns forthcoming since the official announcement of the tuition fee hike last month, Alexander admitted that applications for the various programmes at the University were submitted even before this development had occurred. He therefore noted that any possible impact with regards to a change in entrants would only become evident following the registration process.
Registration at the University commenced last week Tuesday.
“We will have to see what happens when it comes to the point of registration…so we are not in a position to give a final number at this point in time,” said Alexander of entrants to the University.
He nevertheless insisted that based on his observation “there is no crisis in sight”. He went on to note that among the concerns that students have expressed is that of the payment process they will be allowed.
“I think students are more concerned about the facilities for payment, whether they have to pay all at one time, whether they could pay in part, or whether they have to pay all up front…I think those are the major concerns I have been hearing from students,” Alexander related to this publication.
He disclosed though that some students will be able to benefit from the sponsorship of corporate citizens, an avenue that was always available to some.
“I know for example the Public Service Ministry, which is the largest sponsor, has sent for the transcripts of students to see their performances and on that basis they could be re-registered, so I don’t envision any serious problems in terms of corporate citizens’ response to students,” the Registrar assured.
A large number of students opting to attend the University usually seek the support of the Ministry of Finance’s Student Loan Agency which attracts an annual subvention from Government.
The Loan Agency is one that was designed to be a revolving fund where students are able to access loans for their tuition fees after which they are expected to repay that sum at a meagre interest rate. However, the revolving system has not been working as expected, as some students have defaulted in their repayment, a state of affairs that has been viewed as troubling by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh.
Currently the possibility of students being able to access additional funds to meet the hike in the tuition fee is a matter that is gaining the attention of Cabinet.