The University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus is now more equipped in the
area of lecturing facilities with its latest addition of lecture rooms, which have been
dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan. In particular, it is a tribute to
the late President’s contribution to Education in Guyana.
Recently, the widow of Dr. Jagan, former President Mrs. Janet Jagan, reflected on the
contributions the University of Guyana had already made to the Guyanese society since its
establishment.
"It had done a great deal in educating Guyanese for all professions and a variety
of jobs in teaching and science, education and medicine. So, we have that reputation now
of having a society where a considerable number of young people have been educated,"
Mrs. Jagan recalled.
Mrs. Jagan feels the University is now "an established national institution, which
enjoys respectable academic accreditation worldwide."
Dr. Cheddi Jagan was the founder of the University of Guyana, which had its humble
beginnings at Queen’s College Secondary School in 1963.
"At that time we had limited funds and were still a Colony, which prevented us
from raising finances to start a real university, but Dr. Jagan’s idea was
‘anyhow we’ll make a start," Mrs. Jagan recalled.
At Queen’s College, there was a Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. In the early
1960’s, the institute was derogatorily called "Jagan’s Night School".
"No one anticipated that the University would really be established," Mrs. Jagan
recounted.
Perhaps, the University of Guyana has evolved into Dr. Jagan’s initial idea for
the institution. It has matured into the premier learning institution of the country and
produces about 3000 graduates annually. According to Mrs. Jagan, it was not an easy road
since "the University of Guyana was established forty years ago against all
odds."
Initially a small fee of $100 was required, this however was revoked in 1976 after the
implementation of free education from nursery to university. A cost attached to university
education was later reintroduced in 1994 under the University’s Cost Recovery
Programme.
The construction of the Cheddi Jagan Lecture Rooms at the Turkeyen Campus was not an
easy project, but the cooperation of several institutions and individuals contributed to
its success.
Funds for the project were raised through the hosting of several dinners and other
social events that were organised by the Trustees of the University of Guyana. Appeals
were also made to firms and individuals to acquire funds for the project. Some $35 million
dollars was raised.
Additionally, there were a number of non-monetary donations, all of which helped to
make this project a success. In the words of Dr. David Chandarbali, Registrar of the
University of Guyana, "… the total sum acquired (was) something around
$50M."
The building was handed over at a simple ceremony, in the presence of the Trustees of
the fund and University officials. Mr. Yesu Persaud, Chairman of the University of Guyana
Endowment Fund officially handed over the keys for the building to Vice-Chancellor Dr.
James Rose on December 19, 2002. This formed part of the celebrations of the 40th
anniversary of the University of Guyana.
Mrs. Jagan paid tribute to Dr. Cedric Nunes, who as a former Minister of Education
during the PPP Administration in 1963 was also one of the driving forces behind the
development of a strong and stable premier educational institution. " Dr. Cedric
Nunes was our Minister of Education at the time… Nunes was an educator and his
knowledge went a long way in making this a reality," she said.
History records that in 1963 Dr. Nunes presented in Parliament a Provisional Paper No.
2 of 1963 "A Memorandum on Higher Education" which presented the
Government’s point that the rationale behind the establishment of the University of
Guyana was on the basis of financial, educational and philosophical grounds.
It also identified the need for local training to provide skilled manpower on the
threshold of political independence.
After considerable debate, the Ordinance was finally passed on April 19, 1963 for the
establishment of the University of Guyana. Subsequent to deliberations on curriculum,
faculties, class hours, staff and funding, the University eventually opened its doors on
October 1, 1963, using the facility of Queen’s College.
During this time too, Mrs. Jagan recalled that primary and secondary education were at
very high levels. Wherever Guyanese students went they were very successful because of the
basic education they received in their own country. This attests to Dr. Jagan’s
interest in having the most progressive curriculum.
The foregoing project was initially conceived in 1993 to commemorate in 1993 the
thirtieth anniversary of the University. Dr. Jagan at the time thought that something
remarkable should be done for the University. Mr. Yesu Persaud, Managing Director of the
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and now Chairman of the University of Guyana’s
Endowment Fund, was chosen by Dr. Jagan to spearhead the project.
A number of other persons were enlisted to assist, including Dr. L. Chin, Mrs. M. Da
Silva, Mr. E Carter, Mr. L. Searwar, Mr. C. Plummer and Mr. M. Nasir. Of these persons,
six were trustees of the fund.
"They came together and formed the Trust Deed, which provides the legitimacy to
raise funds and proceed with the project," Dr. Chanderbali explained.
The management of the University and the Board of Trustees met on several occasions to
access the needs of the University and brainstorm the likely contributions they could
make. "A decision was eventually taken to build a classroom building at the
University of Guyana Campus," Dr. Chanderbali said.
The Cheddi Jagan Lecture Rooms has three floors. The lower floor which measures 95ft x
25ft is entirely open and can accommodate approximately 120 students. The other two floors
have a total of four classrooms, each classroom measures 40ft x 25ft wide.
The entire building can accommodate about 300 students. According to Dr. Chanderbali,
the new accommodating facility is not to solve the problem of accommodating students in
classes, but it will certainly go a long way.
Initially, it was never intended to construct lecture rooms, but to create something
much more elaborate. What evolved, although long overdue, is fitting for the man with the
initial vision for making the University of Guyana a reality. In Mrs. Jagan’s
opinion, "It’s a good sign to have the lecture rooms in his name as a reminder
of his input, and that he was basically the founder of the University."
Other significant facilities that were established to honour the work of Dr. Jagan
include the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and the Cheddi Jagan Research
Centre, formally known as the ‘Red House’. "The Medical Council also
established the Cheddi Jagan Dental Unit which was a very good dedication, because though
Dr. Jagan was a politician and a statesman, he was originally a professional dentist and a
very fine dentist," Mrs. Jagan pointed out.
