UG’s Road Map: Are we missing the way? – By Rory Fraser, PhD

UG’s Road Map: Are we missing the way?

Stabroek News – Sep tember 9, 2013  In The Diaspora | LINK

By Rory Fraser, PhD – Professor of Forest Economics and Policy,  Alabama A&M University

Rory Fraser has spent most of the last 40 years in academic institutions in the United Kingdom, Canada, 
USA, Jamaica, and Guyana.

Over the past two years, a considerable amount of time and effort have been invested in the US$250,000 consultancy (funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and Government of Guyana) to provide an implementable “road map” to improve effectiveness, quality standards, and fiscal soundness in accordance with the University of Guyana’s Mission.

The consultants Hamilton and Associates have recommended a 5-year US$70 million upgrading and expansion programme to improve the learning and teaching environment and give access to 10,000 students. To date, there is very little evidence of any movement on the recommendations. In fact, there seems to be very little discussion of this report and one is left to wonder if this document is not sharing the same fate as two similar but less exhaustive documents (the 1996 Presidential Commission on University of Guyana and the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan) – an extremely marginal implementation rate. 

Recent dialogue in the media and the tit-for-tat exchange between the major political parties [on the demise/improvements in the educational outcomes, the paucity/availability of jobs/qualified employees, the importation of (un)skilled labour in construction/electricity  installation/mining/sugar!!!, and the implications of staffing relatively enormous high technology industries such as off-shore petroleum and hydroelectric power facilities] would suggest that this is no trivial matter in Guyana.  [Read more]