PPP/C Government has restored confidence in Guyana’s scholarship programme

Dear Editor,
As the Government of Guyana launches the Guyana Online Academy of Learning to provide 20,000 online scholarships to Guyanese, an opportunity was created for every Guyanese to apply and pursue any of the programmes being offered through five internationally acclaimed universities.
These are the University of the West Indies Open Campus, the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), the University of Applied Sciences (IUBH), the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the JAIN “Deemed To Be” University.
These programmes will be offered from the certificate level up to the PhD level. The timeline for completing these programmes range from two months to three years
This initiative is President Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C Government of Guyana’s way of providing opportunities to Guyanese for training, academic growth and lifelong learning.
It is expected that over time, more universities will come on board to provide additional programmes in various areas to Guyanese. This is unlike the former APNU/AFC Government’s scholarship programme whereby Ministers and their families were mostly the beneficiaries of millions of dollars’ worth in scholarships paid for by taxpayers.
One can easily compare the 54,000 certificates issued to ordinary Guyanese under the COURSERA initiative by the PPP/C then and now the GOAL initiative which sees the Government of Guyana intent to provide 20,000 scholarships that will be offered over five years, with 4500 of those scholarships to be awarded in 2021 alone.
This is no secret that this initiative is the brainchild of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who are both aware of the challenges people in different regions in Guyana had accessing tertiary education. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has always prioritised education and has made strides since gaining office in 1992.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his Ministers recognize through education Guyana has a brighter future, recognising the need to give education equally to every Guyanese, not just a category of Guyanese who are able to get it, but those of you who cannot even connect to the internet.
As Government Ministers travelled to the various regions and communities to officially roll out the 20,000 online scholarships initiative. They are giving hope to Guyanese who cannot access the internet by providing internet service to those regions and communities in an effort to ensure they conveniently attain or achieve that higher education.
Most recently Public Works Minister Juan Edghill urged Lindeners and residents of Kwakwani to take full use of the opportunities provided by the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) initiative, as the programme was officially launched in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). While addressing residents of Region 10 he indicated how happy he was that Region 10 was granted access to the programme, which will see 20,000 Guyanese being given the opportunity to pursue a free certificate, diploma and other educational courses online.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government believes in equal opportunity and equal access. Ensure the people of Region 10 are not left behind and have the opportunity under the PPP/C Government to uplift themselves through education.
It must be crystal clear to every Guyanese that through the Government scholarship programme, Guyanese from all walks of life can decide to walk through the door of educational upliftment and advancement, where it would not cost anything but their commitment and dedication to study.
The Government of Guyana will fund every dollar for your scholarship. This is the approach and commitment by the PPP/C Government taken to enhance all Guyanese educational opportunities for the future.
I encourage interested Guyanese young or old, rich or poor to make use of the online portal at guyanagoal.org which is now open for applications.
In keeping with the PPP/C Government’s commitment to develop Guyanese of all walks of life and increase access to opportunities through education, the PPP/C Government has established the correct approach in rolling out 20,000 online scholarships to Guyanese to enable their educational and professional advancement within the next five years, restoring confidence in Guyana’s scholarship programme in the future.

Sincerely,
David Adams