Aishalton village to get internet access to facilitate GOAL Scholarship beneficiaries

– over 900 Reg 9 residents benefitted from programme in 2021

Residents of Aishalton in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) will soon receive internet access to upskill themselves and bridge the digital divide between the coastal and hinterland regions.
This was disclosed by Toshao Michael Thomas on Saturday.
“One of the programmes that we have is catering for the development of our village, where we see the GOAL Scholarship and all those other programmes necessary, and where we can contribute towards meeting the Government’s programmes halfway.”

The announcement was made while Public Service Minister Sonia Parag was also in the community to launch the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship. Minister Parag explained that the programme is intended to make tertiary education accessible to all. She said internet access will empower residents to upskill themselves.
Some $2 million has been set aside to provide internet access to the village, according to the Toshao.

“Aishalton Village Council sees it key for our people to get qualified and for our people to complete what they have started. We want to thank the Ministry of Public Service for meeting us halfway,” Thomas explained.
He said it was important for Village Councils to work with the Government to bring development to communities.
“What we should do is come up with innovative ways of how our village can operate, and we can use our human resources and what we have, and bring together our resources and make sure that our people are benefitting from whatever form is there for us.
He related that the coming week will see installation works commencing. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will also provide equipment to assist with the installation.
Meanwhile, residents of Karasabai, Annai, Lethem and Aishalton signed up for the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship programme during an outreach.

Minister Parag led the outreach, accompanied by staff from GOAL who assisted persons in the application process.
Addressing the issue of internet connectivity, Minister Parag assured residents that a team from the Office of the Prime Minister will visit these areas in February to address the issue.
She explained that the programme is intended to make tertiary education accessible to every Guyanese including those in the hinterland.
“Take the opportunity and I really do hope that you do because it will give you a sense of pride and a sense of dignity because you have earned something and you have learned to do something, and nobody can take that away from you.
“This Government will always commit to educating our people and developing our people and the hinterland will never be left behind. We are developing more programmes that are inclusive and will be closing the gaps as it relates to access to the hinterland,” Parag emphasised.

However, several applicants lauded the Government’s effort to make tertiary education easier for those in the hinterland.
Michael Pio, a Karasabai villager, told DPI, “I am happy about this programme. It’s coming to us in South Pakaraimas and we are happy to apply…this will be first time that we are doing online and I do hope that it will upgrade ourselves.”
Annai resident, Cammilia Rampersaud added, “I think it is a good programme for us because going out there (Georgetown) is very hard. I have family at home, I have my children to look after. So, for me to go out there will be difficult. So, it’s very easy for us online.”
Nikita Pauline, a teacher at the Aishalton Secondary School and a GOAL scholar expressed, “I really like it. They’re reaching out to us. It’s cheap for me because every two weeks I have to buy a prime bundle with Digicel but if I have to compare it to going to the actual university, it’s manageable and I like it.” Over 600 Region Nine residents have already benefitted since the programme was rolled out in 2021.
This is the first phase of the GOAL Scholarship programme that is being rolled out in 2023 with persons having up to January 29 to submit their applications.
Government is on track to fulfil its commitment of delivering 20,000 online scholarships in just over two years, with a budgetary allocation of $1.8 billion in Budget 2023.
This is a collaboration between the Ministries of Education and Public Service to build human capacity to advance and sustain the ongoing transformation.