Why are some UG lecturers still waiting for contracts?

Dear Editor,

I am a student at the University of Guyana, and I would like to express my frustration at what can only be perceived as callousness and ineptitude on the part of the university administration.

It has been three weeks since the commencement of the new academic year, and a number of courses have not started because the lecturers identified to teach these courses are still awaiting contracts to start teaching.

Having approached the Head of Department, my colleagues and I learnt that the Personnel Department is “working on the contracts”.

I find it hard to understand why the Personnel Department of the university has not been “working on the contracts” before the start of the new academic year.

Another related issue is the late recruitment of lecturers. We learnt that there is a committee that is responsible for interviewing and recommending lecturers for employment at the university.

What is preventing this committee from executing its responsibilities in a timely manner so that we, the paying students, do not have to endure the anxiety of not knowing when a lecturer would turn up to teach?

Had this issue of late appointment of lecturers been the first instance of incompetence on the part of the Personnel Department, I might not have been as upset as I am right now, but this issue has been occurring since I started coming to the university.

I was hopeful that things would have changed with the appointment of the new ViceChancellor.

But, sadly, I am still awaiting the “Renaissance” that he promised.

Yours faithfully, (Name and address provided)