Gov’t committed to improving tertiary education

Minister of Education, Hon. Priya Manickchand has said the Government is continuing to explore avenues to improve tertiary education in Guyana, including with the University of the West Indies (UWI). 

Last Wednesday, UWI issued a statement saying that it is currently in negotiations with the Government to help to train up to 20,000 Guyanese over the next five years, through its Open Campus. 

In an interview with DPI on Monday, the Minister gave assurances that while the regional institution is welcomed in Guyana, it will not replace the country’s premier tertiary education institution. 

“What we have is the University of Guyana, which we believe needs to be enhanced and developed and facilitated in getting better and every effort will be made to do that especially having online education delivered through UG.” 

Minister Manickchand disclosed that while on the hustings, the PPP/C held consultations during which many persons expressed the desire to be able to access tertiary education programmes virtually. 

“As a result, the promise to deliver, at least in the first five years, 20,000 online opportunities and scholarships was born and presented to the people in our manifesto… So, we’re trying to deliver on all our promises as best as we can,” she said. 

To this end, the Government is also holding discussions with the United Kingdom Open University, the Indira Gandhi Open University, and universities in Nigeria, China and other countries. 

Minister Manickchand said the Government is cognisant of the challenges at UG and is also engaged in discussions with the institution.