Free UG tuition will open new doors for 2025 CSEC graduates – Education Minister

With the 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) underway and thousands of students across Guyana preparing for their future, the Ministry of Education has highlighted an unprecedented opportunity for this year’s cohort — free tuition at the University of Guyana (UG).
In a direct address via social media, Education Minister Priya Manickchand reminded candidates not only of the importance of performing well in their exams, but of the historic opportunity she believes promotes continual education.
“To our children writing these exams, whether it’s CSEC at the fourth and fifth form level, grades 10 and 11, or CAPE at sixth form, or grades 12 and 13. They are our exit level exams, and there’s a bright, beautiful, thriving Guyana waiting with a variety of opportunities in a variety of fields. The University of Guyana is free,” the Minister said.
In previous years, university tuition fees had served as a barrier for many promising students, however, that barrier has now been removed. Beginning this year, all qualified students will be able to pursue tertiary education at UG without the burden of tuition costs – this means that all tuition fees for diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes will be waived for both new and continuing students.
Aside from free education at UG, Minister Manickchand also emphasised that the country is now equipped with more than just academic options. “We have the GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) scholarships. We have skills training centres across the country. We are building a system that meets you where you are, and takes you to where you want to go,” she said.
With this in mind, she offered practical advice to students during the exam period, urging them to prepare well, arrive early, and avoid prohibited devices that can lead to disqualification. Her message was not only to students, but to their families and communities. “Let us all support our children. Keep your homes quiet and loving. Give them peace to focus. As a nation, we must lift up our young people — not distract or discourage them.”
Today, Guyana’s CSEC largest cohort will sit the English Language Paper 2, and Minister Manickchand is encouraging every student to approach the final weeks with discipline, confidence, and a clear vision of the future they are working toward.
“Your hard work matters. Your dreams are valid. And now, your country is ready to help you achieve them.”

Free education
The Government’s policy of providing free university education will be fully implemented from the 2025/2026 academic year at the UG.
An excess of 11,000 current students of UG are set to benefit from this measure, along with all future entrants. The initiative, which follows a commitment by President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo to make tertiary education more accessible to all Guyanese, particularly those from low and middle-income households, will cost the treasury some $18 billion.
The measure took effect from January 1, 2025, and is seen as a transformative step toward building a highly skilled, inclusive, and resilient workforce.

Applications open
UG began accepting applications for the 2025/2026 academic year from April 1, 2025, and the process will close on May 16, 2025. All prospective students are encouraged to submit their applications early, as quotas for popular programmes fill up quickly, UG said on Tuesday, adding that it is currently processing an average of 1200 applications per week.
Applications are invited for all degree, diploma, and certificate programmes, and detailed information about each programme, along with the application process, is available on UG’s official website and communication channels.
Meanwhile, prospective students set to sit the 2025 CSEC examinations are also encouraged to apply for entry into UG before receiving their results. According to the University, provisional acceptance will be granted in some programmes, pending submission of official grades. In this regard, students are advised to request that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) send their results directly to the University to expedite processing.