“Your education will unlock doors and open windows of opportunities” – Ali to new UG graduates

President Dr Irfaan Ali has charged the new graduates of the University of Guyana (UG) to use the knowledge, skills and values they have acquired from their tertiary-level education to revolutionise Guyana’s development.
In a pre-recorded video message played during their respective graduation ceremonies over the last week, the Head of State pointed to the importance of their university education.

“You, the graduates of the Class of 2020/2021, have successfully equipped yourself with the most potent arsenal of change: a university education. You must now use the knowledge, the skills and the values that you would have acquired to change your personal circumstances and revolutionise Guyana’s development.”
The President stressed that Guyana needs expertise, more so because of the transformative drive to not only modernise, but to diversify the economy.
He said that his Government will attach “extreme importance” to developing and retaining its highly-skilled and knowledgeable graduates, while explaining the importance of tertiary-level education.
“Your country needs your expertise. Guyana is on a transformative path of development towards a modern and diversified economy. One which will attach extreme importance to the development and retention of these highly skilled and knowledgeable graduates. Your education will unlock doors and open windows of opportunities for you to contribute to national development,” the President told the graduates.
Education, according to the President, must also be used to dismantle the barriers of prejudice, hatred and enmity, which he said can deprive us of being the best we can be.
“You are the generation in which Guyana’s future resides, and it is you to whom we look to realise a ‘One-Guyana’.”
President Ali added that his Government believes in the transformative power of education and has devoted increased resources towards improving the country’s education system, including university education.
To this end, he emphasised that his Government remains committed to equipping the University of Guyana with the tools needed to respond to the needs of an increasingly knowledge-based society.
“We intend to continue to expand the range of university programmes available to students and, by 2025, to guarantee free university education.”
The President reminded that currently, the Government is enhancing access to higher education, including through the provision of more than 20,000 online scholarships and other initiatives.
He said that this aims to create a large and highly-skilled human resource pool.
“Guyana’s future will be assured if we can continue to train and retain our human resources to propel our country’s transformative agenda. You, the graduates of the class of 2020/2021, are integral to that future.”
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand in delivering remarks to the graduates said, “I charge you to always embrace the reality that you stand on the shoulders of giants; and as they did, you now have a responsibility to share the knowledge, skills, and dispositions acquired here with your fellow citizens.”
She added: “I charge you to embrace the concept of ‘One Guyana’ and actively seek out ways in which we can advance our ability to not merely coexist, but to do so in genuine harmony, with respect, and general goodwill towards each other despite our differences.”
“I also charge you to be intrepid, imaginative, and innovative. Dream the big dreams and be bold enough to pursue them at all costs. Envision a Guyana at the pinnacle of progress and endeavour to fully contribute to attaining such,” the Minister urged the graduands.
Representatives of the UG Alumni Association, President of the Georgetown Chapter, Sarah Bharrat and Somattie Seranje also delivered remarks at the first and second ceremonies respectively. They both urged the graduates to think beyond themselves and encouraged them to invest in the university that has shaped and moulded them to be the individuals they are today.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Guyana has been streaming its graduation ceremonies for the various faculties on its Facebook page.
On Friday, the Faculty of Social Sciences’ ceremony was broadcasted.
The remaining ceremonies slated for today are: the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Education and Humanities and Institute of Distance and Continuing Education – Degree and Diploma Programmes Only.