In wake of the University of Guyana’s (UG) announcement of increased tuition fees for the academic year 2016/2017 by some five per cent, students have planned a number of activities to disturb the said increase.
Today, the students plan to assemble at 09:00h at the junction of UG road and the line top, where they will proceed to UG by way of protest.ug
In addition, a group of students will be waiting at the Admissions building on campus (Turkeyen) to secure a meeting with Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Ivelaw Griffith.
On Tuesday, the students plan to assemble at Ministry of the Presidency at 09:00h while Cabinet meets to air their concerns.
In efforts to give every student a chance to voice their concern, another protest will be held on Wednesday commencing at 17:00h, mainly targeting the working people. A petition signing will also be done on the same day.
On Thursday at the Turkeyen Campus, President David Granger is expected to attend a commemorative ceremony around 16:00h. The students plan to line both sides of the roadway with placards leading to the campus where another group of students will be present at the ceremony in an effort to secure the President’s intervention.
The concerned students are urging the public to support their actions since the country’s premier tertiary institution plays a vital role in the development sector.
The Tuition increase announcement was made to students via email only a few days ago and just over a month into the semester. The email has caused a massive outburst of students, particularly on social media.
The email coming out of the office of the Registrar reads, “The University administration informs the University Community that the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the University had approve the increase in tuition fees for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic years.”
It said the annual tuition fee for the 2016/2017 Academic year is now $168,000 instead of $160,000.
The email went on to state that the University regretted any inconvenience caused and advised that all invoices will be amended accordingly. It said the difference without penalty becomes payable on or before November 15, 2016. The facilities fee remains unchanged.
The University has increased tuition fees even after it has also announced that students slated to attend graduation will be required to pay $10,000, while those who will not be attending will pay $5000.
