PNC promises free tertiary education if elected, despite it already being free

Ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections set for September 1, the People’s National Congress (PNC) has promised free tertiary education if re-elected to office.
However, the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government already made tertiary education free from January 1, 2025.
The PNC, on its website, noted that during its first 100 days in office, there will be “no more university fees with immediate effect.”
But the Dr Irfaan Ali – led administration already made it tuition-free at the University of Guyana (UG) for all new and continuing students for Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programmes.
Additionally, the PPP administration made it free to study at all government technical and vocational training institutes, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
Moreover, through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), thousands of citizens have the opportunity to pursue higher education, free of cost.
Meanwhile, the PNC has promised that if re-elected into office, it will write-off all loans for students attending UG – but this is already being done by the current PPP government.
“Loan arrangement for current students will be quashed. Those current students who are paying cash will be reimbursed forthwith. Loans for graduates will be written-off,” the PNC said.
However, in 2024, the Government introduced its Student Loan Write-Off Programme. Under the programme, students are asked to submit applications which are accessible through the Ministry of Finance website: https://studentloanwriteoff.gov.gy/apply/new while hard copy submission of application form are also accepted. At the end of last year, over $200 million in loans were written off.