Is UWI’s mediocrity showing?

UWI has perhaps settled for Centre of Mediocrity, typified by the manner of appointing its Principal, Dr Bhoe Tewarie. Making Tewarie’s appointment, the day after his contract expired, accompanied by all the public speculation, does not inspire confidence in UWI as an academic and intellectual institution.

Shades of public sector “acting appointments!” The stony silence built up in the weeks before, suggested uncertainty in the University Council, encouraging some to believe that PM Manning would veto the appointment if he could, given his complaint of “politicians parading as academics” at UWI.

The previous incumbent was a professed “apolitical” Principal, steeped in TT’s annual cultural event, which clearly had great attraction for Manning. The country however might prefer academics that speak out on public issues, involving themselves in constitutional discourse, and principles such as fairness. Partisan politics must be avoided, but academic freedom must allow and encourage open discourse on failing states if so perceived, and public statements must not be sterile.

University tenure is a bulwark against political intimidation and political meddling. But why was Tewarie’s contract reduced from five years to four?

Notwithstanding Tewarie’s appointment, I hold the view that the Principalship of UWI should be an advertised position, like all other university positions.

The council should choose from the best available resources. The impression is that council members prefer to indulge in jockeying to put their man in, and it could encourage candidates to kowtow to council members who are mostly political types.

When Tewarie was first appointed Principal, I had high hopes that he would do something about the many UWI lecturers, who do not correct exam papers on time. But the laziness continues.

Even Vice-Chancellor Nigel Harris appeared on a morning talk show recently, and he too dodged the issue, when a caller raised the same question of late exam results, many more than a year late.

I thought this slackness was only found at John Donaldson Institute! Many years ago, the student career advisor related to me that when students took vacation after exams at John D, instead of correcting exam papers, the lecturers went off on vacation as well.

At the beginning of the next term, students were “conditionally” enrolled in the second year, with new books et al, but unsure of their first year results. Many second year students, who did not pass, on being asked to repeat the previous year, abandoned their course, discouraged and embarrassed. As a result, most graduating John D students were repeaters of one or two years in their courses.

Before John D was absorbed into Costaatt, it had become a virtual institutional corpse, just awaiting burial.

After completing her final exams in1997 for her Masters at UWI, my own daughter Pauline had to be chasing two UWI lecturers for her results. When applying for a teaching position in Toronto, she had to explain apologetically that UWI is traditionally late with results.

After getting a conditional appointment to teach mathematics at a community college, she embarrassingly had to apologise monthly “no results yet”, until July 98 the following year.

Only when one lecturer (and a former senator) had the audacity and the gall to tell her “don’t call me, I will call you” — that I was driven to raise the matter in the press, without her knowledge, and contrary to her wishes (from fear of victimisation).

A few days later, one Professor Rowbottom phoned me from Jamaica to apologise, but not before expressing his astonishment that no one from UWI in Trinidad saw it fit, nor thought it necessary, to do anything about my complaint.

Pauline after all was just a student, privileged to be at UWI. After years of study preparing for the job market, the UWI administration is little concerned about its students.

“Excellence” at UWI applies to its fete, and “mediocrity” to everything else.

Tewarie however has another four years to lift that aura of mediocrity hovering over UWI, and to discipline those who draw their pay but will not perform.

Michael J Williams

Maracas Valley