More than $600M in tuition is still owed to the University of Guyana says Vice Chancellor, Dr. Paloma Mohamed-Martin. She made this revelation during the University’s Annual Business Meeting on Thursday.
The Vice Chancellor told the meeting that the sum owed to the University has placed the institution in an uncomfortable position. She noted that despite these setbacks, students are still allowed to finish their studies.
“We have allowed them to continue studying and we’re collecting fees from them as they can pay and that of course is not very good for our cash flow but it’s good for the country,” she said.
She noted that the University had explored options to collect outstanding monies. The Vice Chancellor however affirmed that students who owe will not be disallowed from attending University.
“What’s going to happen, if we say ‘if you can’t pay, and we stop you from learning.’ What’s going to happen to all that pent up talent and energy and all those needs that we have? So, the University has taken that decision to relax its fees,” the Vice Chancellor said.
She further outlined that the annual subsidy UG receives from government is only enough to cover about 50 to 60% of the University’s payroll. She noted that in order for UG to function, the institution needs about $7B.
“One of the critical things that people do not understand about the university and its funding is when they hear that the university gets a government subvention, they think that it funds everything for us and it actually does not,” Mohamed-Martin said.
Be that as it may, she said the institution will continue to work with students to clear the outstanding balance.