It seems like UG will see some positive changes under the new vice chancellor

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,
Maybe an education revolution is about to take place, according to the University of Guyana (UG) vice chancellor. Earning a post-secondary degree or credential is no longer just a pathway to opportunity for the talented few. Rather, it is a prerequisite for the growing jobs of the new world order.
In recent years, employment in jobs requiring education beyond a high school diploma has grown, and this is ever increasing. All of the fastest growing occupations require post secondary education.
With the average earnings of college graduates at a level that is twice as high as that of workers with only a high school diploma, higher education is now the clearest pathway into the middle class.
Since Guyanese tend to aspire going to the U. S., it should be noted that America produces most of the world’s Nobel laureates and scientific papers.
Moreover, college graduates, on average, still earn far more and receive better benefits than those who do not have a degree.
A degree has always been considered the key to a good job. But rising fees and increasing student debt, combined with shrinking financial and educational returns, are undermining at least the perception that university is a good investment. So this is the price (maybe a dilemma) that must be addressed.
Indeed, the vice chancellor is right, and I agree with increasing tuition costs at UG. I have a suggestion though – since the issue is that of money and government has a student loan plan in operation, this must not be done in a routine and simplistic manner. I think that the performance of students must be monitored.
Students on loan must be mandated to achieve a set Grade Point Average (GPA). When this is not the case, some kind of corrective action must be taken. I also believe in utilising the skills of the students during and after their programmes. This will go a far way in shoring up the limited human resources in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Tracy Graham

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