Every Police Officer must obtain passes in Math, English – Pres Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali has issued a directive to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), calling for a force-wide educational uplift that will see every rank acquiring passes in Mathematics and English over the next three years.
The President made the announcement while addressing officers at the GPF’s Christmas breakfast, framing the initiative as a crucial investment in the professional growth and long-term security of Police personnel.

Ali instructed senior officers to immediately begin registering all junior ranks in the Government’s online learning platform.
“We now have the Guyana Digital School, available 24-7. We must work in the next three years to ensure every single one of our ranks pass mathematics and English first years,” he said. “Take it upon yourself to get them registered on the Guyana Digital School before the end of this year.”
The President cautioned supervisors not to overwhelm ranks with multiple subjects at once, insisting instead on a structured path that focuses first on the essentials.
“And don’t have them focus on eight subjects or nine subjects. Let them first focus on mathematics and English,” he emphasised. “Let us have a Police force in which every single rank and officer can say, and we can say it proudly, they all have passes in mathematics and English.”
He reminded officers that educational advancement is now tied to the Government’s vision of ensuring that members of the force can retire with dignity, qualifications, and expanded career opportunities.
Framing education as both a duty and a national investment, the President urged officers to recognise the rare opportunities being offered.
“There are very few countries that can speak about all of these opportunities we’re given,” he said. “We want you not to look at them only as opportunity, but look at them as an investment in making your life a journey of fulfilment.”
Last year, the GPF announced that they were introducing higher entry standards for recruits and would now require CXC qualifications or better as the Police Academy transitions into an accredited institution.
With this new status, the force said the academy will offer recognised academic courses alongside policing training, and all instructors are university-qualified officers, including several with master’s degrees. The programme blends practical policing skills with a strong academic component, and recruits must now achieve at least 70 per cent to pass both the course and the upgraded entrance exam, which is being set by the University of Guyana.
The GPF said they are also partnering with regional bodies and local institutions to deliver training in areas such as critical thinking and crisis management. The move follows longstanding public concerns about the education level of Police ranks, and senior officers have emphasised that many officers continue to further their studies through Government-supported programmes.
The Police Academy, accredited since August 2023, is the first public entity to attain such recognition, giving its certifications regional and international value.