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February 28, 2026
February 28, 2026
February 28, 2026
For at least 20 aspiring engineers in Regions Two and Six, the long daily commute to the University of Guyana (UG) is now a thing of the past. Earlier this month, UG decentralised its engineering programmes, offering Civil and Mechanical Engineering courses at the Essequibo Technical Institute in Region Two and the John’s Science Centre in Berbice, Region Six.
The move has made tertiary education more accessible, cost-effective, and convenient for students who previously faced nearly four-hour daily journeys to and from the UG campus in Region Four.
For first-year civil engineering student Devashree Dhanai from Canefield Canje, Berbice, the change is life-changing. As the first person in her home to attend university, Dhanai had to leave her family and adjust to dormitory life miles away from home.
“It was really hard to be away from my family, I missed my home-cooked food, and it was lonely at times, but I had to get used to it for education purposes,” she recalled. Now, with classes closer to home, she is overjoyed at the ease and comfort of accessing her studies without the strain of long-distance travel.
Similarly, Samira Khan, a first-year mechanical engineering student from Nigg Corentyne, described the exhausting routine she faced before the programme decentralisation. “I had to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to make it to my 9:00 a.m. classes. Now, with classes nearby, my family is saving on travel costs, and I benefit from more face-to-face learning. It’s definitely better educationally and financially,” she said.
Students expressed gratitude for the expanded programme, noting that the opportunity comes at a time when they are enjoying free tertiary education, compliments of the Government. They also highlighted a shared sense of responsibility and eagerness to give back to the country upon completing their studies.
The decentralisation of UG’s engineering courses aside from easing financial and logistical burdens, has brought tertiary education closer to communities and empowering students to pursue their academic ambitions without sacrificing family ties or comfort.
