PNC Education Policy Nothing to be Proud of

Jul 17, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor

Kaieteur News – In the Stabroek News of July 15, 2025 I read a letter from Mr. or Ms. A Dey in which he/she lauded the 1976 announcement of “free tertiary education.” Whoever A. Dey is he/she should be advised that sometimes it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. Because the PNC’s history on education is nothing to be proud of.

In the first place, a section of the PNC was opposed to the creation of the University of Guyana. The then leader of that Party Mr. Forbes Burnham, had even promised to close the University down if or when he became leader of the country. He even derogatorily called it “Jagan Night School” because Dr. Jagan began the University classes at Queen’s College after three in the afternoon. He was not willing to wait until the campus was established at Turkeyen. (Read Dr. Harold Drayton “Genesis & Early Years 1963-73).

I say a section of the PNC, because there were some who openly disagreed with Burnham on that score. Mr. John Carter (later Sir John) was one such person. He even accepted to serve on the UG Board of Governors in that period.

The University was so popular that Mr. Burnham was unable to carry out his threat when he took power in 1964.

It is true that in 1976 Mr. Burnham announced free education in Guyana. However, what his supporters never wish to recall was the fact that by 1980 the University was flat on its back. Indeed, education as a whole was in its worst period. The PNC regime even reduced the qualification for entrance into UG and that institution was grinding downwards.

At one point, it had to be closed for some months to repair some basic facilities such as toilets, etc.

Education and other essential services were sacrificed so that the PNC elite would live well. For instance, more money was spent on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs than on the Ministries of Education, Health, Housing and Agriculture combined during that same period.

So, Mr. Or Ms. Dey, the PNC’s record on education is as bad as it had been with the economy and human rights! Nothing to be Proud of!

Regards,

Donald Ramotar

Former President

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Donald Ramotar, Education Policy, Elections, PNC, UG

2 thoughts on “PNC Education Policy Nothing to be Proud of”

John Williams July 18, 2025 at 1:12 pm

When High School Education was Free

Dear Editor
I don’t think Donald Ramotar is stupid. For he to say PNC free education policy is nothing to be proud of is embarrassing. It’s embarrassing to all Primary and Secondary School pupils who happened to migrate overseas and were commended for the quality of their education. It’s embarrassing to all those parents who were suddenly freed from paying tuitions for their 2 to 4 or more children who wanted to attend high school. It’s embarrassing to those high schoolers who now had money for lunch and snacks because their parents didn’t have to pay the school tuition. It’s also embarrassing to all those high schoolers who could now take a bus or get a bicycle to go to school instead of walking long distances. Perhaps Ramotar should go back to Freedom House and stay in its dark corridors when education became free for thousands of young people. In those days Freedom House used to resemble a jumbie house /ghost house and I was scared to go in and buy what ever they were offering as I passed on my way to Chatham High, corner of Robb and Light Streets.
When free education became the norm none of the top high schools lost their distinctions. It’s not like what’s happening now where teachers teach in their private lessons to the detriment of those who cannot receive these classes. Just ask Ramotar, what percentage of the top earners of CSEC or Cape got all their knowledge solely from their 8 hours day school? If he says 75 percent or more then he can boast of PPP education policies. But education stinks right now!’ Children spend 8 hours in school then another 3 to 4 hours in extra lessons. When they reach home they have to spend time, sometimes in blackouts to complete their homework. ( Perhaps he should think of getting solar lights to every student home). And don’t talk about all “them” books they have to carry everyday.
What Ramotar should be doing is to find ways to make school children lives easier. What about providing free breakfast and lunch? What about providing extra curricula activities by making playgrounds available at every school where two or three sports are played e g soccer, cricket, basketball, long tennis, volleyball and even table tennis Who knows if the next Kanhai, Gibbs, Jordan, Pele, Serena will be found on those after school or lunch break playgrounds. Do schools today have debate teams, STEM teams, chess, foreign class teams? That’s what he should focus on. What about after work adult education where adults can get their GED so that those who migrate to Uncle Sam can get a job quick. What about training schools for mechanics, plumbing, electricity etc for those high schoolers technically gifted.
Donald, let’s use free education to set people free from kindergarten to the grave . Guyana still have a long way to go
John Williams July 18, 2025 at 1:12 pm

When High School Education was Free

Dear Editor
I don’t think Donald Ramotar is stupid. For he to say PNC free education policy is nothing to be proud of is embarrassing. It’s embarrassing to all Primary and Secondary School pupils who happened to migrate overseas and were commended for the quality of their education. It’s embarrassing to all those parents who were suddenly freed from paying tuitions for their 2 to 4 or more children who wanted to attend high school. It’s embarrassing to those high schoolers who now had money for lunch and snacks because their parents didn’t have to pay the school tuition. It’s also embarrassing to all those high schoolers who could now take a bus or get a bicycle to go to school instead of walking long distances. Perhaps Ramotar should go back to Freedom House and stay in its dark corridors when education became free for thousands of young people. In those days Freedom House used to resemble a jumbie house /ghost house and I was scared to go in and buy what ever they were offering as I passed on my way to Chatham High, corner of Robb and Light Streets.
When free education became the norm none of the top high schools lost their distinctions. It’s not like what’s happening now where teachers teach in their private lessons to the detriment of those who cannot receive these classes. Just ask Ramotar, what percentage of the top earners of CSEC or Cape got all their knowledge solely from their 8 hours day school? If he says 75 percent or more then he can boast of PPP education policies. But education stinks right now!’ Children spend 8 hours in school then another 3 to 4 hours in extra lessons. When they reach home they have to spend time, sometimes in blackouts to complete their homework. ( Perhaps he should think of getting solar lights to every student home). And don’t talk about all “them” books they have to carry everyday.
What Ramotar should be doing is to find ways to make school children lives easier. What about providing free breakfast and lunch? What about providing extra curricula activities by making playgrounds available at every school where two or three sports are played e g soccer, cricket, basketball, long tennis, volleyball and even table tennis Who knows if the next Kanhai, Gibbs, Jordan, Pele, Serena will be found on those after school or lunch break playgrounds. Do schools today have debate teams, STEM teams, chess, foreign class teams? That’s what he should focus on. What about after work adult education where adults can get their GED so that those who migrate to Uncle Sam can get a job quick. What about training schools for mechanics, plumbing, electricity etc for those high schoolers technically gifted.
Donald, let’s use free education to set people free from kindergarten to the grave . Guyana still have a long way to go

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