Almost 16,000 scholarships already delivered to Guyanese – Pres Ali

…says investments in education aligned with development trajectory ahead

In less than three years, Government has been able to deliver almost 16,000 scholarships to Guyanese from across the different regions.
President Irfaan Ali disclosed on Tuesday that the scholarships were delivered through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and other programmes under the Public Service Ministry.

It also puts his Administration closer towards fulfilling their manifesto promise of 20,000 scholarships within their first term in office. Benefitting from these opportunities were a significant number of females, he stressed.
“We have delivered almost 16,000 scholarships already. I can guarantee you that there is no other country that can say out of 16,000 scholarships, more than 11,000 went to female students,” Ali said while addressing the graduation ceremony for scholarship awardees.
The President underscored that education is an uplifting tool to oneself and the country. Investments in the education sector have been calculated to align with the development trajectory ahead.
Education is that tool that can unlock for you, a future that would be able to deliver greater prospects but more importantly, one that is supposed to deliver to our communities and our country, better citizens, more responsible citizens, citizens who are better equipped to serve our country.
Hospitality, health and technical sectors are some areas where person can develop a career path to service, Ali noted. In some of the budding sectors, there is a shortage of workers.
“Technical education and services are important areas in terms of employment generation in our country. Sometimes, we are not up to speed with the time. In the developed world, you would see persons with Master’s degree operating a heavy-duty equipment. There is dignity in every form of job,” the Head of State advised.

Launched in 2021, GOAL is a part of the Government of Guyana’s transformative agenda to have an educated workforce. GOAL, through partnerships with several international universities, provides a myriad of pertinent academic and vocational programmes: Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s, Post-Graduate, Master’s, and Doctorate.
The primary objective is to deliver 20,000 scholarships by 2025 through a collaboration of agencies including the Education Ministry; Public Service Ministry, and the Labour Ministry.
Public Service Minister Sonia Parag used the opportunity to speak on the Government’s commitment to ensuring students complete their respective programmes as she acknowledged their challenges.
“We understand the challenges. We understand what you have to go through and we will ensure that you reach that point, whatever that glass ceiling is that you want to shatter. Whether it be a PhD, whether it be a degree, we will ensure that we help you to overcome the hurdles,” Parag urged.
Director of GOAL, Professor Jacob Opadeyi called on persons to apply for the various courses as the opportunity is still available, while lauding the Ali-led Administration’s efforts.
“I have lived in many countries and I have never seen a Government say ‘come and get a scholarship’ and you don’t have to serve. All you have to do is community service. Go and practice what you have learnt to your communities,” the Professor asserted. (G12)