Dear Editor,
Permit me the space to vent our (the students’) frustration at the fact that, in 2020, we are still complaining about issues that were budding problems some 10 years ago and beyond. Humbly, I boast at not making stories up. If I lie, let the record reflect same. The students however will share my sentiments as well. Thank you to those who have submitted their grades for their students.
As I write this letter, I am forced to include a Facebook post from Melly Mel, which has a student complaining about not receiving their grades from 2014 and as such, is unable to graduate – even after paying over 1 million dollars for an online course.
Today is the 6th February, 2020 and the students of the University of Guyana, especially those in the Social Sciences Faculty, have not been updated as to their standing as it pertains to their grades. Classes have started but persons are unable to ascertain how well or bad they would’ve performed in the previous semester. Some persons were depending on the grades so as to switch their courses or programmes, which require proof of your standing Grade Point Average. Slow grades continue to hamper this process and our academic experience at the University of Guyana. May I also add ‘some students’ for the sake of argument?
I draw your attention Editor, to an email written to the Registrar one day before the first day of class seeking clearance as to when these grades will be published. The response outlined that based on an academic board meeting held on the 21st January, 2020 “all Deans were urged to expedite the consideration and approval of Grades in respect of the First Semester.” The Registrar even went on to say that he was persuaded that that will be done. Assuming that he was persuaded after the academic board meeting date, it is now 16 days after that and our grades are outstanding. If we subtract the two Sundays, and I am laughing here, it’s 14 days after the Registrar was persuaded and those grades are still outstanding. Is he still persuaded? Taking out Saturdays also, makes it 12 days.
I recall Editor, the previous Vice Chancellor stating that in order to be considered for a raise in salaries, he would ensure that how efficiently lecturers release their grades will also be considered. But of course, this is the problem or one of them. The lecturers will tell that they would’ve already done their part, it was/is the board to which the paper is then taken after the first marking. And then that board will refer you to the other person in the chain for clearance as to what has happened that cause your grades to not be released on time. By this time, you’re fed up and just want your grades so you pursue it less and you go to your class, waiting on those slow grades release. These are the attitudes that we, the students, are ‘forced’ to take up as opposed to fighting for our grades. Next year this time, we will revisit this conversation.
I call on our leaders, who at this time, may be of the opinion that making the University free, as it should be according to the constitution, is our only concern, nay! We are also concerned about our welfare in classrooms. We are concerned about the lack of experienced lecturers for our courses. We are concerned about the way in which persons cancel our classes with little to no notification about same. We are concerned about turning up to classes in the first week, and some lecturers having the audacity to not show up, even without informing said class. Is the first week of school not a school day?
Let me use this opportunity to state clearly, that as students, we have to take up a more active role in campus activity. Do you think the University is willing to risk being disrupted by protest action because of this? Are you of the opinion that we really hold no true power? Do you really think that the University can risk having a campus-wide protest because of same? They can’t, but we are going to sit and accept this continued mediocrity? Why?
Yours faithfully,
Jafar Gibbons
