University of Guyana staff to receive 8% salary increase this year – Manickchand

The University of Guyana (UG) is set to benefit from a significant budgetary allocation that will include an 8 per cent salary increase for its staff members; a part of an ongoing effort to enhance the institution’s financial standing and the quality of education it provides.
The announcement comes on the heels of a broader Government push to improve tertiary education in Guyana, with particular attention to UG, which was established by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.
In the most recent Committee of Supply’s Consideration of Estimates and Expenditure for the 2025 Budget, Education Minister Priya Manickchand explained that the 8 per cent salary increase for staff is a clear indication of the Government’s recognition of the important role played by the faculty and staff at UG in shaping the country’s future.

“What I can say to you is that the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) Government has given to the University of Guyana, which is established by statute, everything they asked for under their recurrent budget, every single cent…So, the Government announced an 18 per cent increase. 10 per cent last year and 8 per cent this year is what is catered for here for the staff at the University of Guyana,” the Minister said.
The Minister noted that this budgetary provision is expected to ease the financial strains on UG staff while allowing the institution to focus on its continued growth.
The sum of $13.1 billion is allocated in the 2025 National Budget to finance free tertiary education at UG. The Government of Guyana has made a historic step in education reform.
The move abolishes tuition fees and is expected to benefit more than 11,000 current students, and all incoming students at the institution.
Minister Manickchand also highlighted that the implementation of tuition-free education would require a cultural shift among students. It was emphasised that students must not take their access to education for granted, and there will be continued efforts to ensure students maintain responsibility for their academic performance, particularly in exams.
Regarding student fees, the Minister clarified that the allocation for UG also includes funding for the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), with $1,000 per student being earmarked for their activities.
“When the APNU/AFC (A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change) went into office, UG’s fees went up by 35 per cent, whether we called it facilities fees or students fees or whatever it is, the student had to pay 35 per cent more. This is at a time when the APNU/AFC was earning $90 billion a year more in revenue than the PPP was earning when it was in office and did not raise fees,” she pointed out.
“In our request and plea to the people of the country when we went to them to say give us your confidence, give us your vote, we’re going to look after you, one of our promises was that we would forgive the debt of students who, or we’d find a pathway to write off the debt of the students who owe the University of Guyana and that we would make university education free of charge. And I’m very happy to see that as usual, before the end of the term, we are fulfilling that promise by making the University of Guyana tuition free, facilities fees free, and so the student doesn’t have to pay that,” she added.