Govt blasts UG’s Vice Chancellor for threats to “shut down” university

“He should ask the Opposition why they cut the budgetary allocation for student loans” – Finance Minister

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has dismissed threats by University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi to shutdown the university as reckless and premature.

Dr Opadeyi at a press briefing on Wednesday warned that if the Finance Ministry does not signal its approval for the disbursement of student loans, the university will temporarily freeze operations.

“I believe the Vice Chancellor should know the matter is currently engaging the consideration of the Cabinet. Instead of making reckless and irresponsible threats, the Vice Chancellor would be better advised to ask the Opposition why they cut the budgetary allocation for student loans in the 2014 Budget,” Dr Singh said.

During the consideration of the 2014 National Budget, the Gy$450 million which was budgeted by Government for the Student Loan Fund was disapproved after it was lumped with items the Opposition deemed objectionable.

By June, the Finance Minister had moved to the House with a Statement of Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates totalling Gy$4.5 billion for the period ended June 16. This sum had included Gy$225 million for the Student Loan Fund.

But his decision to spend the disapproved funds has now landed him before the Committee of Privileges.

A high level of uncertainty surrounding students’ ability to access loans currently exists, even as the Loans’ Department remains mum on the situation. Dr Opadeyi said the non-responsiveness from the Loans Department and by extension the Finance Ministry could trigger a total shutdown on both campuses at Turkeyen and Tain, as he alluded to Plan B.

“We will close down UG for a year, because if we have no student who can pay fees, then we will have no student to teach and then we will have the liabilities of lecturers who will have to receive salaries every month. So it will just be useful to just shut down for six months or three months,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor told the press briefing at the Education Theatre, Turkeyen Campus in the presence of the Registrar Vincent Alexander, Bursar Holda Poonai and acting University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) President Joshua Griffith, that this is the next best alternative.

He made this announcement during a press conference at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus in the presence of the Registrar Vincent Alexander, Bursar Holda Poonai and the acting Student Society President Joshua Griffith.

The Vice Chancellor explained that when contacted on Wednesday about 13:30h, the Student Loans Office was unable to give definitive answers, saying that it was awaiting instructions from the Finance Ministry.

“I am the CEO”

According to him, if a favourable response is not given by the second week of the new Academic Year 2014/2015, the university will be closed, until funding can be made available to students. Questioned whether the “Plan B” was in keeping with the initial “Plan B” agreed upon by the Council, Dr Opadeyi in response said, “I am the CEO.”

Although 40 per cent of the student population acquired loans in the last academic year, this per centage is expected to skyrocket with the increase in tuition fees that will take full effect come September. Based on this analysis, the Vice Chancellor said it will not be financially viable to operate the university with just those students who can afford to pay cash. “This is not a cake shop,” he lamented.