Government Should Seriously Reconsider its Plans to Offer Free Education at the University of Guyana by 2025

Jan 03, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – Since it was returned to office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) has taken commendable strides in revolutionizing tertiary education.

The highlight and high-point of its efforts was the launch of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

This innovative program of delivering tertiary education has been impactful.  GOAL has been a game-changer, providing thousands of individuals with access to tertiary education who might otherwise be constrained by factors such as work commitments, geographical location, or the limited online offerings of institutions like the University of Guyana.

GOAL has been such a success story that it puts the University of Guyana to shame for its failure to not have rolled out more extensively an Open Learning initiative such as GOAL.

GOAL has proven that there is an enormous need for a more flexible and convenient access to higher education in Guyana. It has also established that there is a massive void in terms of the delivery of tertiary education services.

In this context, the government should seriously reconsider its plans to offer free education at the University of Guyana by 2025.

Instead it should channel the resources for that initiative towards the GOAL programme.

One of the most significant advantages of the GOAL initiative is its flexibility in terms of class schedules. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar institutions, GOAL allows students to access lectures online, something that is more convenient and suited to the schedules of students. This flexibility is particularly crucial for those who are already engaged in the workforce and may find it challenging to attend regular classes.

The flexibility offered by GOAL translates into greater accessibility for individuals who may face geographical barriers. Not everyone can relocate to access education at a traditional university, especially those living in remote areas. By expanding GOAL, the government can bridge the gap and ensure that quality education is accessible to all, regardless of where they live.

By providing greater access to tertiary education, GOAL caters to the needs of a diverse student population, ensuring that education becomes a viable option for working professionals and individuals with family obligations.

The GOAL program also stands out for its diverse range of courses, offering a far wider spectrum than those available at the University of Guyana. The traditional model of tertiary education often limits students to specific fields and may not accommodate emerging disciplines and industries. GOAL, on the other hand, embraces a forward-thinking approach by providing a variety of courses.

Given that the Vice President is concerned about the sustainability of public servants wages especially considering that a time will come when there is no oil, it is surprising that he has not considered whether free education at the University of Guyana is sustainable.

The government has to factor cost effectiveness into its decision-making concerning use of oil revenues. Online education incurs lower overhead costs compared to maintaining physical campuses and infrastructure. Instead of pouring more monies into the University of Guyana, those funds can be redirected towards expanding GOAL. This would allow for the more efficient use of resources since UG is not known as a paragon of efficiency. It is a guzzler of public funds

This strategic reallocation can lead to a higher return on investment for the government. It is one that will ultimately benefit a greater number of students.

Investing in the GOAL program represents a forward-looking and strategic approach to tertiary education. The online learning model allows for continuous improvements, leveraging advancements in technology and pedagogy.

In contrast, pouring more funds into a beleaguered institution such as the University of Guyana may yield limited returns without addressing fundamental issues such as outdated teaching methodologies, infrastructure challenges, and bureaucratic hurdles. Governments have tried without success to reform the University of Guyana.

Rather than pouring more funds into a struggling university system, the government should consider scaling up the GOAL program to create a new model of tertiary education in Guyana. The success of GOAL demands that it moves from an academy towards a full-fledged tertiary education platform.

This is not to say that the government should not support free education at the University of Guyana. It should do so but only for select programmes which are the more relevant to the skills that are urgently needed for national development.

GOAL is the way to go. UG should be let go!

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• Government, Offer Free Education, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC), Reconsider, University of Guyana

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