Any input from Government as it relates to a move towards a hike in tuition fees at the University of Guyana will have to be guided by the institution’s Council. At least this is according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, even as she sought to respond to questions as to whether a potential hike in the fees has been up for discussion at the level of Cabinet.Minister of Education, Priya ManickchandAccording to the Minister, while she has some knowledge that the University had announced moves to discuss the matter among various stakeholders, the decision on such a major move would be one that the Council has to pronounce on ultimately. And the Council’s decision, she noted,Wholesale Jerseys For Sale, will be supported by Government.In fact Manickchand pointed out that since the University’s operation is governed by a Council, even the Ministry of Education does not have a supervisory input. “We release funds, that is the extent of our contribution there…we give the funds…” she told media operatives at a Cara Lodge,Wholesale NBA Jerseys China, Quamina Street, Georgetown,Cheap Jerseys Store, venued press conference on Monday.Nevertheless,Wholesale China Jerseys, Manickchand, whose port folio sees her being tasked with overseeing general education matters in the country, disclosed that she has observed that there has been a notable change in the management of the University. This change she attributed to the new Council which was installed during the last quarter of last year. “I am satisfied that there has been a significant change in this new Council in the way they are trying to be more accountable. At the end of the day what UG earns from students’ fees and whatever else they earn from is not enough to run the University,Cheap MLB Jerseys, and as a country we are going to have to decide how we go forward,” she asserted on Monday.Added to the evident accountability promoted by the new Council, the Minister pointed to the stewardship of Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi, whom, she said has ensured that there is more frequent and prompt answers to financial questions.Professor Opadeyi was appointed to the position of Vice Chancellor early last year and soon after called for a Special Audit of the institution’s Bursary. The audit, which was voluntarily conducted by financial experts of the University of the West Indies, was able to uncover startling financial discrepancies. The disturbing findings resulted in the termination of two senior Bursary officials – the Bursar and the Chief Accountant.Moves have since been made to improve the operation of the Bursary with a view of ensuring that there is financial accountability to encourage Government’s support to the institution.According to Minister Manickchand, under Professor Opadeyi “we have seen more frequent and prompt answers to financial questions.? The answers are not (always) what we would want but they are frequent and prompt answers to financial questions and they seem to know better what’s going on with their finances than they did before.”“Are we happy with all the answers they give? No we are not! But like I said UG is run by a Council that is dictated by law and that is the extent to our involvement,Wholesale Jerseys Paypal,” said the Minister.She however outlined that the Education Ministry has continued collaboration with the tertiary institution to determine “what our teachers will learn, what students need to know…to see if our curriculum is matching what students need to know at entry level to the University but that is very different from the administrative running.”