Region 2 residents urged to take advantage of GOAL programme

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo called on young people and to an extent all residents in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to take full advantage of the opportunity of the Government’s Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme.
He made this call to those who attended a public meeting at the Anna Regina Multilateral School on Tuesday as a part of his three-day visit to the Essequibo Coast.
The initiative is a partnership between the Education and Public Service Ministries which provides online studies at several recognised universities.
These include Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India; JAIN “deemed to be” University, India; University of West Indies (Open Campus); University of Southern Caribbean (Trinidad) and International University of Applied Sciences (IU), Germany.
The VP stressed the importance of enrolling, noting that it will chart a new course for Guyana’s future. He also said the GOAL Scholarship is the realisation of the PPP/C Administration’s manifesto promise to enhance education nationwide.
“I hope that as students and particularly given what our desire is for you when you graduate that is to create a job in the future that will allow you to lead the country to the potential that we outline. The GOAL scholarship is an essential skill that will allow you to prosper in this world… A deserving type of skill we searched for.” Dr Jagdeo told the awardees.
He further noted that Government understands the value of Information and Communications Technology and as such, pointed out that with more competition and greater bandwidth, the cost will decrease.
Jagdeo assured the attendees that the main aim is to bring the cost down and make sure the scholars have stable, reliable, and accessible internet capacity.
Meanwhile, an awardee of the GOAL Scholarship, Devin Persaud said that he is thankful for the initiative, and as such he is sure that the scholarship will assist him to gain a job in the future.
“I finished school over a year now and I have applied to several places for employment and never get through… However, I saw that the GOAL Scholarship application is open and I decided to apply, luckily, I am appointed to be a part of to study. I am thankful that I am accepted because I don’t work and I rather study than waste time home and I’m sure it will assist me in gaining a job in the future,” Persaud said.
The Vice President was accompanied by Education Minister Priya Manickchand; Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall; Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues; GOAL Director, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, and regional officials.