GEORGETOWN – The dream of free tertiary education has at long last become a reality in Guyana. The start of the new year ushered in a landmark policy: as of January 2025, tuition fees at the University of Guyana (UG) have been abolished, making education at the nation’s premier university free of charge for all students. The fulfillment of this major promise by the PPP/C government was formally announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali during an address to Parliament late last year. Lawmakers from the government benches thumped their desks in approval as the President declared, “From the next academic year, no Guyanese will pay for tuition at UG. Education, as our Constitution envisaged, is now truly free.”

The announcement was met with joy from students and parents nationwide. Immediately, applications to UG surged; the university administration reported a significant jump in enrollment interest for the 2025 semester, especially from students in rural regions who previously found costs prohibitive. Vice Chancellor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, speaking at a subsequent press conference, called the policy “transformational,” noting that financial barriers had long kept qualified youths out of higher education. The government has allocated funds in Budget 2025 to fully subvent UG’s operating costs, estimated at around GY$3 billion annually, to replace lost tuition revenue. Education Minister Priya Manickchand assured that quality will be maintained, as the budget includes provisions to hire additional lecturers and expand facilities to handle the expected increase in student intake.

In Parliament, even members of the opposition acknowledged the significance of this step, though not without some political jabs. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, while welcoming free university education as beneficial to citizens, quipped that “the idea was ours first” – alluding to the fact that free education was enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution since the 1970s but never implemented in full. His remark drew chuckles, given that his party had been in office just a few years ago and did not enact the policy. In fact, critics pointed out that during the previous APNU–AFC administration, university fees remained in place and even saw adjustments. Government MP and former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, responded pointedly: “It’s this government that is doing it now, after 28 years of unkept promises by various parties.” She highlighted that the PPP/C had pledged in its 2020 manifesto to restore free tertiary education by 2025, and it has delivered right on schedule.

The policy’s rollout has not been without questions. Some opposition parliamentarians pressed the government on sustainability: Can Guyana afford this long-term? Finance Ministry officials in the parliamentary committee explained that with the rapidly expanding economy and oil revenues, the expenditure is manageable. Guyana’s tertiary education spending will rise but remains a small fraction of the national budget. Moreover, officials argue, the return on investment will be high – more graduates to staff Guyana’s growing industries and government services. They also cite the country’s burgeoning scholarship program (GOAL), which has already funded tens of thousands of online degrees and certificates in the past two years, as evidence that education spending is a top priority. “It’s not a cost, it’s an investment in our human capital,” asserted MP Faisal Jafferally.

One interesting twist came on the political trail: even after free tuition was set in motion, the opposition coalition in its early campaign messaging promised to “implement free university education.” Government supporters quickly pounced, noting that promise was outdated by events. Commentators in the press urged both sides to avoid politicking the issue. “Free education should be a national achievement, not a partisan football,” wrote one editorialist. So far, the initial reports are positive – students are registering without paying fees, and some who had dropped out for financial reasons are returning to complete degrees. Final-year UG student Roshana Singh beamed outside Parliament after watching the announcement from the public gallery. “My younger sister will start UG next year and we won’t have to struggle to pay,” she said. “This opens doors for so many of us.” For President Ali’s government, that is precisely the point: oil wealth fueling brainpower, and fulfilling an old promise to build Guyana’s future minds free of charge.