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GOAL-the great equaliser
Dear Editor,
I am quite pleased that GOAL, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning, is very much trending in Guyana. I read that it is preparing to launch its next round of scholarship applications and I really hope that the public will take time to “… follow the guidelines on compiling and saving key documents necessary for the application process….” In this age of technology, there is no excuse to ‘miss out.’ In fact, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has gone overboard in fostering education in the country. Just internalize this: “The 2024 Budget confirms its focus on education. (As) In 2024, the Guyana Government allocated approximately $100.5 billion to the education sector. This includes $4.1 billion for the University of Guyana and $4 billion for the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme. Additionally, $4.9 billion is dedicated to the school-feeding programme, benefitting about 126,000 children nationwide. The “Because We Care” student grant was increased to $40,000 per child and a $5,000 uniform voucher, amounting to $9.2 billion for these transfers.”
On the larger scale, this is situating Guyana in a good global position. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), all nations are obligated to provide “ … free primary and secondary schooling for all boys and girls by 2030, the aim is to provide equal access to affordable vocational training, eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve universal access to quality higher education.” This is tied to the fact that “Education is the key that will allow many other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved. When people are able to get quality education they can break from the cycle of poverty.” After all, “Education helps to reduce inequalities and to reach gender equality. It also empowers people everywhere to live more healthy and sustainable lives. Education is also crucial to fostering tolerance between people and contributes to more peaceful societies.”
Editor, the evidence is abundant. In Guyana, “GOAL has significantly transformed the learning landscape … offering anyone eager to further their studies the chance to do so from the comfort of their homes. Since its inception, more than 20,000 scholarships have been awarded, surpassing the initial target.” As we recall, many tried discrediting GOAL when it was being touted, but the PPP/C did not waver and launched it in 2021, as “… an initiative of the Guyanese government, aimed at providing 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese citizens (thus) enabling them to pursue online, tertiary-level courses through partnerships with reputable international universities.”
For pure joy at GOAL’s success, I love revisiting how in May this year, there was a second GOAL graduation ceremony, at which over 1600 persons graduated in university level courses-bachelor degree, post graduate diplomas, and master’s degrees. 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.’
Yours truly,
HB Singh
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