Human capital investment driving Guyana’s growth – Ed Minister tells UNESCO

Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, has reaffirmed Guyana’s unwavering commitment to education, sustainable development, and global cooperation, emphasising that the Government’s substantial investment in human capital remains the driving force behind the nation’s rapid growth. She made the remarks on Friday while addressing the 43rd Session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Minister Parag emphasised that while Guyana’s economy is experiencing a significant boom, the nation measures “true prosperity… not only by economic output but by the opportunities we create for every citizen,” and stressed the urgency of reversing global educational setbacks and closing the inequality gap. “The global slowdown in educational progress must be reversed, and it must start now,” Minister Parag asserted.

She went further to highlight several groundbreaking initiatives that Guyana has implemented to bridge this gap over the last five years – the foremost being the massive expansion of opportunities for a sound tertiary education, specifically by way of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which has seen close to 40,000 scholarships being awarded to Guyanese, including in some of the most remote and rural areas of the country. Moreover, Minister Parag said that more than over GYD36 billion has been invested in school construction and rehabilitation, expanding capacity for approximately 20,000 additional students. This has seen many Hinterland communities getting secondary schools for the very first time. In the context of a rapidly transforming world, the Education Minister outlined her Government’s strategy to align the local workforce with high-value sectors, particularly through the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Furthermore, the expanded “Because We Care” Student Grant and uniform allowances provide GYD55,000 per child annually, representing an over GYD11 billion direct investment to remove economic barriers. These assistances, in the coming year, will increase to $100,000, coupled with the introduction of an additional $100,000 transportation allowance.
“Through these efforts… we are ensuring that no child is left behind because of economic insecurity,” Minister Parag underscored.

AI in Guyana’s education future
Recognising the impact of emerging technologies, Minister Parag spoke of Guyana’s perspective on Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Guyana views AI, appropriately governed, as an opportunity to enhance education, improve public services, and strengthen climate research. Guided by ethics and equity, we are fostering digital literacy to ensure technology serves humanity, empowering our youth to lead with creativity and conscience.” Minister Parag also highlighted Guyana’s unique position as a high-forest, low-deforestation country, guided by its landmark Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). She detailed new commitments to global stewardship, including a partnership with the Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change and the launch of a Global Biodiversity Alliance in July 2025.
On the cultural front, the Minister also spoke about Guyana’s cultural diversity, and how Guyanese embody the country’s National Motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. The conference was informed that Guyana is prioritising the ratification of the 2003 Convention for the ‘Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,’ as a critical step to formally protect the languages and traditional knowledge of its Indigenous Peoples. In reaffirming Guyana’s commitment to increased global collaboration, Minister Parag announced the nation’s candidature to the UNESCO Executive Board in the upcoming elections on November 7th, offering a powerful call to action. “The challenges of our time, climate change, digital transformation and the erosion of cultural heritage demands that we reimagine the future together. Let us transform today’s uncertainty into tomorrow’s opportunity, guided by our shared belief in peace, knowledge, and human dignity,” Minister Parag charged. The UNESCO General Conference, which basically sets the organisation’s policies, approving its budget and programmes, adopting conventions and recommendations, electing members of the Executive Board, and appointing the Director-General, began on October 30 and is slated to wrap up on November 13, 2025.