Police College in Berbice opens doors to international students

With its recent accreditation, the Felix Austin Police College in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), known for law enforcement training, is now poised to welcome international students.
This achievement marks a significant milestone in the college’s history, validating its rigorous training programmes and attracting a global cohort of officers eager to benefit from its enhanced educational offerings.
According to Woman Assistant Superintendent Althea Solomon, who is in charge of this facility in Berbice, the college has undertaken substantial changes to meet international standards following its recent accreditation. Speaking on the police radio programme ‘Police and You’, Assistant Superintendent Solomon highlighted one of the most notable changes: the transition from traditional paper-based examinations to an online testing system. This shift, she said, aligns with contemporary educational practices and provides a more efficient, secure, and accessible means of evaluating students.
“The journey to acquiring that accreditation was not a walk in the park; it was a lot of hard work. Several policies we had to put in place. We had our entire infrastructure rearranged,” she explained.

Academic standards, curriculum
The college has introduced a revised curriculum that emphasises a comprehensive approach to police training. Police officers are now required to achieve a minimum pass rate of 70 per cent across four critical modules. These modules cover a range of subjects, including law enforcement fundamentals, community policing, information technology, and specialised skills. The integration of information technology into the curriculum is a significant advancement, in that it prepares officers to handle the technological demands of modern policing.
To deliver these enhanced courses, the Felix Austin Police College has partnered with experts from the University of Guyana. This collaboration ensures that students receive top-tier education from some of the best minds in their respective fields, further elevating the quality of training provided.
International recognition, employment opportunities Asst Superintendent Solomon further stated that academy graduates will now leave with an accredited certificate, a credential that holds significant value both locally and internationally.
This accreditation ensures that graduates are not only prepared to serve within Guyana, but are also competitive candidates for law enforcement positions in other countries with accredited organizations.
“Since we received our accreditation, we’ve seen officers from other countries coming here to train alongside our junior ranks,” Solomon shared, highlighting the growing reputation of the college on the international stage.
With its doors now open to international students, the Felix Austin Police College is poised to become a hub of cross-cultural exchange and professional development. The diverse student body would enhance the learning environment, fostering a global perspective in policing strategies and community engagement.

Accreditation
In September last year, the GPF Academy was officially accredited by the National Accreditation Council (NAC), thus clearing the way for enhanced training for police officers. Deputy Commissioner of Police ‘Admin,’ Calvin Brutus, in his remarks, noted that the accreditation marks a significant milestone in the Force’s journey towards excellence in law enforcement education and training.
Providing further context on what it took for this achievement to be realized, Brutus noted that the process began on September 22, 2022, when the GPF received the Certificate of Registration, a crucial step in its pursuit of excellence. This, he said, laid the foundation for the rigorous process that has led the Force to this achievement.
Further, he noted that, as the academy begins its transformation, it would be elevating the Force’s entrance examination standards from a primary education level to a post-secondary education level.
Simultaneously, a stringent marking and grading system would be introduced for all programs available at the academy. (G9)