Over 4000 Guyanese to benefit from GOAL scholarships in 2024

– Spanish tutoring for public servants

Despite surpassing its target to provide 20,000 Guyanese with Guyana Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships free of cost, another 4750 persons will benefit from the programme this year.
This was revealed by former Public Service Minister Sonia Parag during the Ministry’s end-of-year press briefing on Friday.
According to Parag, the Government will continue to advance its bilateral partnerships with Cuba, China and Russia to make available several courses this year.
This includes courses such as food technology, biomedical technology, data science and agricultural science technology, among others.
Additionally, to bridge the tertiary education gap in hinterland communities, scholarships to the University of Guyana, Guyana School of Agriculture and technical institutes will be made available to several persons.
The Minister explained this move is part of efforts to address the local labour shortage while ensuring Guyanese attain skillsets to become financially independent.
“And it continues of course in 2024 and 2025. So, by the time we’re at 2025 we would be at the way, I’m hoping beyond 30,000 Guyanese who have the opportunity to earn a certificate. And the GOAL scholarship allows you not only to apply in the public sector but in the private sector or to be self-employed, whatever your heart desires,” Parag stated.
It was further disclosed that the Public Service Ministry will be partnering with US-based online course provider, Coursera, to offer Spanish tutoring for all public servants.
A total of 54,000 persons in the public sector will benefit from the initiative while another 2000 persons will benefit from Information Technology (IT) training through a partnership with Canada.
While the Spanish tutoring programme will not be mandatory, Parag said public servants are being encouraged to take full opportunity.
“We have been making Spanish mandatory in schools but we don’t want to be placing that on adults…but I know a lot of public servants they are very eager to get onboard and learn another language” the Minister explained.
Additionally, each Government Ministry will have the option to generate tailored educational programmes to suit the function of their agency and fill in skilled gaps.
The programmes are scheduled to commence in March and will run for 16 months.
According to Minister Parag, the initiative forms part of the Ministry’s effort to ensure that citizens are equipped with the necessary knowledge in keeping with the ongoing development of the country.
“More than that is the bonus of training those persons with the end result being 100 per cent that they will be employed. So, that we’re looking to go further than just training people and putting them out there but making sure that they are able to be independent and able to be financially empowered,” Parag explained.

GOAL achievements
The GOAL scholarship was launched in 2021 with the aim of offering Guyanese an opportunity to advance their education through online and distance learning (ODL) mode.
The sum of $1.8 billion in budgetary provision was made available to the Public Service Ministry for the programme last year, given the Government’s commitment to the educational advancement of citizens.
With regards to internet connectivity and computer devices, resources were provided to ensure that ICT hubs in several regions are functional.
As a result, from 2021 to 2023, a total of 21,442 persons benefitted from GOAL scholarships, and this saw Guyanese attaining certificates, diplomas, Bachelor’s, Post-Graduate, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in various courses.
Meanwhile, 15 persons in Region One (Barima-Waini) were awarded Government scholarships, 34 were awarded to persons in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and 56 persons residing in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) received a Government scholarship in 2023.
Additionally, 142 Guyanese from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) received scholarships, 23 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 42 from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 19 from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Minister Parag further disclosed that more than one person from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), two persons from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 20 persons from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) were granted the opportunity to pursue a tertiary education.
Guyanese were also provided the opportunity to study in Cuba, Russia and China.
More than 50 per cent of the beneficiaries in last year’s programme were women – the majority of whom are single parents.
Additionally, five persons living with disabilities gained employable skills and tertiary education through the programme in 2023.