UG hikes tuition fees

Last Updated on Friday, 30 September 2016, 18:54 by Denis Chabrol

Tuition fees at the University of Guyana (UG) will be increased from this academic year, students were told in an email on Friday.

“The University administration informs the University Community that the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the University had approved an annual 5% increase in the tuition fees effective for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 Academic Years,” the Deputy Registrar told students in a mass email.

UG explained that the annual tuition fee for the 2016/2017 Academic Year would be $168,000 instead of $160,000.

When added to the GYD$50,000 Facilities Fee, students will now have to pay GYD$218,000 per year, up from GYD$210,000. UG  expressed regret for  any inconvenience caused, and advised that all invoices would be amended accordingly. The institution said the difference, without penalty, becomes due and payable on or before November 15, 2016

President of the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS), Ronald Glasgow said he and his executive members were up to late Friday meeting to discuss the implications of the fee hike and how it could be mitigated. While those talks were not over, Glasgow said the mood of the meeting is that the UGSS was opposed the increase in tuition fees.

UG’s Public Relations Office did not issue a statement, announcing the hike in fees but the move comes at a time when the institution has set itself several ambitious goals and has increased salaries within the last year by almost 50 percent.