The University of Guyana acknowledges with deepest concern and regret an anonymous letter to the editor regarding a single outstanding grade for a course in the Department of Law. The Department of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences collectively acknowledge this as an anomaly brought about by several unforeseen and unfortunate factors.
While the University hosts over 2,500 courses a semester and over 5,000 courses a year, over 94% of which are graded and posted on time, for various reasons some grades may still be late. In this case, among the circumstances was an increase in the number of students whose papers needed to be marked, and the unexpected and prolonged illness of the particular lecturer, who underwent eye surgery late last year. As such, the strict submission of grades for final-year students to the Hugh Wooding Law School by the end of July was prioritized, so that the University of Guyana’s final-year students met the deadline for acceptance into the highly competitive finishing programme in Trinidad and Tobago.
In addition, this year several departments within the University have experienced delays as they grapple with burgeoning numbers, logistical and other matters associated with the fulfilment of the Government of Guyana’s promise of State-Funded Tuition. At this point, the department has assured that the grades will be approved for release within the next week. The situation is deeply regrettable and is not expected to recur.
Notwithstanding, the University of Guyana wishes to note that the graduates of its Law programme have consistently performed in the top 10 of the Hugh Wooding Law School over the last 10 years. Therefore, the University wishes to assure both students and all interested entities of its continued commitment to the highest academic standards.
