A prolonged failure by the University of Guyana (UG) to release Criminal Law I and Criminal Law II grades for the 2024/2025 academic year has triggered direct intervention by Chancellor Sir Ronald Sanders, who has ordered urgent corrective action and a formal review of how the results were allowed to remain outstanding for so long.
In a statement issued by the University on September 19, 2026, UG said Sanders had acknowledged the seriousness of the delay and apologised to the affected students, who face uncertainty over academic progression, applications to regional law schools and professional deadlines requiring complete academic records.
“The delay is completely unacceptable.”
The Chancellor said the matter was brought to his attention by the President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society on September 17, 2026. He immediately referred the complaint to Professor Stafford Griffith, Chairman of the Transitional Management Team, with instructions that the allegations be investigated, the facts established and all necessary corrective action taken.
However, after learning that the matter had only been partially addressed by the September 18 deadline, Sanders issued further directives.
Chancellor Orders Immediate Measures
Sanders directed that all affected students be informed of the status of their grades and the steps being taken to resolve the matter.
He also ordered urgent arrangements to ensure that no student suffers academic, professional or other disadvantage because of the University’s delay.
The Registrar and Examinations Division were specifically instructed to communicate candidly with affected students and not to confuse the marking of examination scripts or submission of mark sheets with the official release of approved grades.
Through Professor Griffith, Sanders further directed the Registrar to identify all affected students, including those facing imminent application or admission deadlines.
Where necessary, the University is to provide certified explanatory letters, interim academic documentation or direct confirmation to the Council of Legal Education and relevant law schools.
UG will also consider, through the appropriate academic authorities, exceptional measures required to ensure that students are not prejudiced by circumstances for which they bear no responsibility.
Review and Accountability
The Chancellor said he was alarmed to learn that, although some action had been taken by September 18, the matter remained unresolved and all affected students had not received their grades.
He has therefore ordered an administrative review to establish why the grades were not processed and released within the required period, why earlier assurances were not fulfilled and what changes are necessary to prevent a recurrence.
The Registrar has also been instructed to determine whether similarly outstanding grades exist elsewhere in the University and report the findings to the Transitional Management Team and University Council.
The intervention places both the immediate welfare of the affected students and the University’s internal examination-result procedures under scrutiny.
Sanders said UG’s immediate responsibility is to complete the outstanding academic processes, protect the affected students and provide them with accurate information.
He also stressed that the University must establish accountability for the failure and strengthen the systems governing the submission, approval and release of examination results.
