GOAL’s success must be celebrated

Apr 21, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

It is awesome, reading that some “30,000 Guyanese have benefitted over the past three years from free, quality education, through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme” This is something to celebrate, both at the personal and governmental levels; personal, as ‘being qualified,’ means at least bargaining for a better living standard, and governmentally, it is testimony to the continuing input of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, into the lives of Guyanese.

First, at the level of the individual, and specifically concerning GOAL, it helps people become better citizens, get a better-paid job, shows the difference between good and bad. Education overall shows us the importance of hard work, and at the same time, helps us grow and develop. Thus, we are able to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations. Increasing earning potential is of course almost automatic as well.

Then at the governmental level, it is common knowledge that an educated population is important in building a nation’s economy. According to studies, countries with the highest literacy rates are more likely to make progress in human and economic development. National economic growth begins with individual economic growth, which is often linked back to education.

Editor, education and training pay ‘big time,’ even though it is costly. That is why I stitch-in here that we must not take for granted what is unfolding in the education sector in Guyana.

I recall from the last budget that Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh did announce that $4.1 billion was budgeted to support the operations of the University of Guyana (UG) this year. He revealed that in 2024, new programmes will be offered in such areas as food security, cybersecurity, engineering technologies, biopharma, marine studies, earth and climate sciences, and sports medicine. As we are all aware, the world has grown exponentially, and if Guyana will compete, then investment in the people’s preparation is necessary. Specifically, $4 billion was allocated for the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) to support new and continuing students, and we are now beginning to reap herein; it will get better and bigger.

As we share in the pride of President Irfaan Ali (when he addressed recently those gathered for the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies’ 27th Annual Awards Gala in New York), “… his government has been working assiduously to enhance access to quality education, ensuring that universal access be achieved countrywide … the effort has produced notable results, as the government continues to surpass its goal of providing 20,000 scholarships during its tenure.” So far so good. Why?

He pointed out that “Today, under the GOAL scholarship programme, we have over 345 programmes from 19 universities. More than 30,000 students are on this programme in just three and a half years, 75 percent of whom are women … (and) of this number, some 2,229 graduated from the UWI programmes.”

I just hope that we will continue to capitalize on what is on-going educationally. To enjoy free tuition from GOAL is not a trivial matter. In highly developed nations, many cannot pursue higher learning and why? It is just ‘far too costly.’

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