Latest update December 17th, 2024 3:32 AM
UG wants Govt. to Provide Emergency Funding -Cites critically deteriorated conditions at campuses
Participants in the First Conference of Education Resource Ambassadors
The University of Guyana Education Resource Ambassadors are calling on the Government of Guyana to provide emergency funding to arrest the further deterioration of the University. The ambassadors issued a resolution last Tuesday highlighting the several issues which they believe deserve immediate action.
Upon visiting both the Tain and Turkeyen campuses, the Ambassadors reported their dismay at the degradation which was allowed to occur over the years.
The Ambassadors, comprising both resident and overseas-based Guyanese alumni of UG, recognized in their statement that the deterioration of landscape and physical infrastructure of the Turkeyen Campus should be reversed. It was highlighted that both staff and students are forced to work in unhealthy and unsafe environments.
The Ambassadors expect that funding be provided to increase the salaries of staff. “The faculty and staff are woefully underpaid, demotivated and constrained in poor conditions.”
The representatives also expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of resources at the campuses. It noted that this deficit is adversely affecting the delivery of education. “The university is seriously underprovided with materials, equipment and technologies necessary for its effective functioning.”
It was highlighted in the resolution that there are numerous members of Government, the political opposition, private, public sector and civil society who would have attended the premiere tertiary institution. It is expected that these individuals recall their roots and step up to offer the support which the university needs.
The representatives are calling on the immediate intervention of President David Granger and Minister of Education Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine to publicly pledge adequate and sustained funding for the restoration of the national institution as a source of national pride.
The Conference of Education Resource Ambassadors was initiated with the mandate of providing resource assistance to the University. It was the brainchild of the university’s Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith.
The VC had mentioned during his first press conference since assuming office that the government alone cannot be expected to provide all the funding which the university needs hence his outreach to the alumni of UG.
At the first conference of ambassadors held on June 25 at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown, the participants were able to raise a total of US$70,000. Added to finances, scholarship funds and overseas assistance were pledged.
The three-day conference was held under the theme “Dreaming Resources, Doing Resources”. A follow-up conference is expected to be held within a year’s time.
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