| In his attempt to deliberate on the proposed hike in the tuition fee at the University of Guyana, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, yesterday alluded to his belief that such a move should not constitute the sole means of revenue generation at the tertiary institution. He was at the time responding to a question about a proposed increase in the tuition fee at the university during his Post Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President.At his inaugural press conference last week, recently appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi,Cheap Jerseys, spoke of the proposed plans to increase the university’s tuition fees as part of moves to improve the quality of the institution. In fact, he expressed confidence that Government would support the move since according to him “it is common sense. There is no Government service that has not increased its prices in this country…so it is just common sense.”The Vice Chancellor noted that the only challenge with implementing the tuition change is the modality,Cheap NFL Jerseys, that is, “how we should, not why we should do it, and if Government says we are not going to increase tuition, the University is going to say ‘this is the extra bill you have to pay’….This is the cost of giving that person the quality education that you wanted.”In expressing his conviction on the matter, Dr Luncheon noted that if the tuition fees are adjusted upwards, it could prove to be a major challenge for some prospective students,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, particularly in the absence of scholarships and other payment agreements.“One could see the argument being made to have the fee maintained at levels that notionally can be supported and not (be) burdensome to prospective students and some other mechanism be found to swell the coffers of the University.”Moreover, he noted that “if fees and fees increases would remain the sole or dominant means of revenue generation (it) needs to be questioned, if not for no other reason, but from the perspective of he who has to pay.”However, discussion about an increase in tuition fees has not yet been conclusively dealt with at the level of Cabinet, according to Dr Luncheon, who in alluding to the history of such talks disclosed that it commenced since the initiation of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration in October of 1992.“I think that the fact that in March of 2013 it is still on the table for a decision,Wholesale China Jerseys, if by no other analysis,Discount Adidas Shoes Australia, it is inescapable that the administration was unsupported from 1992 to 2013…there is no other conclusion that one could come to in the face of the fact that it never took place.”Moreover,Wholesale Soccer T-shirts, he expressed optimism that the renewed deliberations on the issue would encourage the administration to take a formal position of “yes or no.”“I could tell you without any fear of contradiction that over the years, 1992 to 2013, at Cabinet there wasn’t consensus, which has forestalled a position and has left this matter inconclusively dealt with…”As such, he is hopeful that Cabinet will have to consider it in light of what has transpired over the years and arrive at a decision to present to the Guyanese public. This, he said, would have to be done in order to enlighten those affected as well as the academic community “who must have been led to believe that an increase in the tuition fees is apparently some panacea and it would solve all the matters that affect the University of Guyana.” |
