| – hoping to solicit support of private sector to do moreAt a recent Academic Board meeting at the University of Guyana (UG), it was revealed that the semester will be extended by at least four weeks. This therefore means that the semester will end the last Friday in June and will by extension result in more UG deadlines being extended, including the payment of tuition fees.This development is one that resulted from a five-week long strike action by university workers who, through their unions, have been calling for a pay hike, other improved benefits and conditions.The industrial action was, however, brought to an end earlier this week since the University Unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) – and the University Administration were able to reach an agreement.Moreover,Authentic Jerseys China, the Academic Board meeting was intended to ascertain the way forward.With a focus on the academic interest of students, it was disclosed at the meeting that the impact on the strike action felt particularly by law students will be addressed even as efforts are made to ensure that all students are in receipt of their grades shortly.In an invited comment to this publication, President of the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS), Joshua Griffith, said that he was informed that the delay in the availability of grades has been linked to the non-availability of internet service on campus for a period of about one week. However, he intimated that the service was restored Wednesday thus students’ grades should be available by next week.But this is only based on Griffith’s estimation. The process of grading entails a number of stages including one that requires the approval of the Board of Examiners of each individual faculty, an undertaking that has not been realised in most faculties, this publication understands.“Even though lecturers are finished grading and second markers have marked, most grades have to be approved at a Faculty level and until that is done it cannot be fed into the system to be uploaded for students to see,” said the UGSS President.He, however, noted that based on disclosures from the UGSSA President, Dr Mellissa Ifill, a lecturer herself, students can make contact with their lecturers and request to see their grades, though unofficially. However, Dr Ifill has advised that the process must run its official course before grades are placed online and made available for students to access.Meanwhile, regarding the UGSS’s initiative, #UGRevolution, which is aimed at having the concerns of students, as it relates to the tertiary institution be addressed, Griffith said that “we will be regrouping over the weekend”.He nevertheless noted that “we have seen a lot of progress but there is still room for improvement…We are appreciative and we are working with the slow progress and moving forward.”Among the improvements that have become noticeable, according to Griffith, are the installation of much needed whiteboards in the classrooms and physical cleaning of the environment. However, this process, according to Griffith, in some instances, leaves much to be desired since silt removed from the drains can be seen merely left sitting around the campus compound. “That looks a bit unsightly and we are working to get that addressed,” said Griffith as he went on to note that while classes have resumed there are yet some courses that do not have lecturers.Another issue that was of immense concern to students but has been addressed by the Administration is that of the thorough and frequent cleaning of washroom facilities, Griffith disclosed. He however insisted that the onus is also on students to help ensure that the facilities are kept in an acceptable condition.Even as the students await the complete improvement of UG, Griffith said that the revolution initiative is likely to take on a more proactive student-phase whereby attempts will be made to engage the private sector with a view of “working together to develop our campus”. |
