The administration of the University of Guyana has moved to close both the Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown and Tain, Berbice campuses for an additional week amid concerns raised by students about the unstable political climate, which has challenged their performance and compromised safety.
The University of Guyana
A few days ago, the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS) had petitioned for an extension to their semester break amid the current political tension embroiling the country.
In correspondence seen by Guyana Times, UG informed students and faculty members that the campuses remained closed until March 20. However, during this time, stakeholders are asked to utilise electronic means to continue class activities.
“UG campuses will be closed to students and teaching faculty till March 20th, 2020. During this period, students and staff are advised to carry on their educational activities as advised last week as far as possible using electronic means,” the administration indicated.
UGSS had noted in its request that security has been a factor of paramount concern, as many students have chosen to relocate to other locations. The extended break would afford persons enough time to establish proper mechanisms in place.
“We know these past few days have been uncomfortable for you all. Same goes for us. Some of us have been made to switch our locations due to security concerns for ourselves and our family… Secondly, let this not be known as an extension to a semester break, but rather, the University closing down for a week so as to have proper and better systems in place where the security concerns of us all can be guaranteed,” UGSS stated.
In sharing its motive for this request, the student body said that campus should also be closed owing to transportation constraints. While that may be the issue of many, those travelling from Berbice are fearful given protest actions across the region.
“Let us vehemently state, we strongly disagree with any suggestion that school be reopen as per normal for the coming week. There has been, to us, little to no real assessment of the transportation burden that our current political climate has imposed on our students…A vast majority of our students (over 1000) comes from Linden alone. Those who are coming from the Region Three area will now find it difficult to travel also, as most buses have stopped working,” the statement indicated.
Concerned about security on the streets, UGSS indicated that the campuses at Turkeyen and Tain were vulnerable to attacks. In recent time, violent protests have erupted throughout the streets in close proximity to the Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara base, and the situation escalated a few days ago in Berbice.
“Our campuses alone, based on security provided, can be deemed vulnerable to many attacks. Who can guarantee our safety in this regard? Peaceful protests have now turned violent, leaving one dead and a few injured so far. Should persons in Cummings Lodge and Industry decide to join the wave of protesters, our campus at Turkeyen becomes a haven. Berbice campuses have already become virtually impossible to think to go,” the student body posited.
Adding to that, students have indicated that there has been some psychological impact from the events which unfolded postelections. This extension adds to the previous one-week break that was granted at the end of the second semester.
Public schools
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry on Thursday said that all public schools remain open. This advisory came after the first case of Coronavirus Disease-2109 (COVID-19) was detected in Guyana. The 52-year-old woman, who travelled to Guyana from New York, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The Ministry is advising persons to take the necessary precautions as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO); Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in relation to the COVID-19.
