“They couldn’t put aside the $4B it takes to make UG Free? Clearly, they have no interest in the University or its students.”
This comment was made by Economic Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Elson Lowe, a day after Guyana’s Finance Minister read the $782B, 2023 budget in the House.
Free education at the University of Guyana (UG) is part of several promises that were advanced by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) during its bid to secure votes in the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Yet, the administration is yet to make tangible progress in making this a reality, despite the pressure from the opposition and student bodies.
The Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo recently reiterated his government’s commitment to making paid tertiary education a thing of the past. He said that his government will accomplish this before the end of its term in office.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated $3.8B for the management and development of the University.
This sum is for the administration and expansion of operations at the institution’s Turkeyen and Berbice campuses.
Over the past two years, 6,100 students graduated from the University of Guyana.
The Guyana Constitution provides for free education from nursery to tertiary.
