Nearly 2,000 Guyanese students graduated this week under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), as the government’s flagship online scholarship initiative reached a milestone of over 39,000 awards granted to date. The two-day graduation ceremony, held June 9–10 at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, celebrated the third cohort of GOAL recipients, 70% of whom were women. Senior Minister in the Office of the President Dr. Ashni Singh announced that the GOAL programme has nearly doubled its original target of 20,000 scholarships, calling it a transformative investment in building a knowledge-based economy.
Launched in 2021, GOAL provides fully funded online certificates and degrees through international universities. Government investment in the programme now stands at GY$12.6 billion, roughly $312,000 per student on average. Graduates obtained qualifications ranging from specialized certificates to master’s degrees in fields such as education, healthcare, technology, and business. Addressing over 500 new master’s degree holders at the ceremony, Dr. Singh urged them to “seize the moment” in Guyana’s historic phase of growth. “You are literally living in an era of opportunity in Guyana,” he said, alluding to the rapid economic transformation underway and the need for skilled professionals.
President Irfaan Ali, who delivered the keynote address, commended the graduates for persevering through challenges to improve themselves and their country. The ceremony’s theme – “Empowering the Nation’s Human Capacity” – reflects the government’s view of education as central to ensuring all Guyanese share in the country’s oil-fueled prosperity. Officials noted that the GOAL scholarships, a 2020 manifesto promise of the ruling PPP/C, have been pivotal in expanding higher education access to rural and hinterland communities that lacked opportunities. As one graduate put it, “GOAL opened doors for me that I never imagined, and now I can give back to my region.” With thousands of skilled graduates entering the workforce, the administration is touting GOAL as a cornerstone of its human development agenda. Plans are already underway to further scale up the programme in coming years.
Region: Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4)
Sources: dpi.gov.gydpi.gov.gy
