UG mulls 35 percent tuition fees hike over next 3 years

Mar 29, 2017 News

Students of the University of Guyana were caught off guard by the announcement of a proposed 35 percent increase in tuition fees, yesterday.

The University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

The announcement, which was made at a Town Hall meeting yesterday, by Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith, entails the increases being applied incrementally.
The first 15 percent increase is proposed to be effective from September, the beginning of the new academic year. A 10 percent increase is planned to be applied next year, followed by the other 10 percent increase in 2019.
New students enrolling into the University are likely to pay a higher increase.
According to students, the invitation to attend the forum did not have an attached agenda. As such, the majority of them boycotted the event, and were only made aware of the “colossal” announcement via Facebook posts from fellow students.
When contacted last evening, President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), Ron Glasgow, confirmed that announcement, saying that the student body was consulted on the decision.
He said that the UGSS was not in favour of the increase, and that the proposal still has to be deliberated on when UG’s Council meets.
“That should be before March 30,” Glasgow added.
In a Facebook post on March 22 last, Public Relations Officer of the UGSS, Christina Basil, hinted at the forthcoming announcement.
“During the beginning of the last semester we were called to pay a five percent tuition increase. This decision was abrupt and unjustified, and it was refuted by the student body in collaboration with the University of Guyana Administration team. We were able to mitigate the increase and UGSS and the students all shared a short term victory.
“However, as we remember, the Vice Chancellor addressed the student populace where he shared that there will be an increase in tuition slated for the next year. The time has come,” Basil said.
The post went further to highlight that the initial proposal to begin the new academic year with a 20 percent increase in tuition fees, as opposed to the aforementioned 15 percent hike.
“We are mere months away from the next academic year, and as such, an increase in tuition should serve as no surprise for us…the UGSS has been graciously included in the consideration of this increase, thanks to the Senior Administration, and at a recently held meeting, we sternly objected to such an exorbitant increase,” she said in her post.
Basil posited that even if the senior administration wanted to recoup tuition that was lost, a 20 percent increase was NOT the path to take.
“Through our valiant efforts, we were able to keep the increase to 15 percent. Facility fees remain untouched. There are also plans to improve the Loan Agency, among other procedural activities. Loan Agency will also soon start making provisions for the loaning of facility fees.”
Basil went on to ask that students provide their feedback on the possible increases.
“The UGSS is urging you to be aware of persons peddling other malicious rumors. We are on your side and we are assiduously fighting for fair play as it pertains to the well being and comfort of all students,” Basil said.
Meanwhile, students have already taken to social media to vent their frustrations. Many are accusing the student body of not having the best interest of the students.
Former news personality and current Marketing Student of the University of Guyana, Romel Roopnarine, was one of the persons who attended yesterday’s meeting with the Vice Chancellor.
According to him, the forum which was promised to be an interaction session, resulted in the Professor Ivelaw Griffith making a lengthy presentation, after which he allowed about six questions before bringing the curtain down on the event.
Roopnarine, along with a number of other students, is annoyed at the fact that the student body is asking for students’ feedback on the proposed increases, but did not engage them before the decision was made.
“The student population cannot afford such a huge added financial burden at such a period,” Roopnarine added.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News