Latest update May 22nd, 2026 12:38 AM
From Classroom to Boardroom, How K–12 Education Will Power Guyana’s Economy
By Karen Abrams, MBA, AA, Doctoral Candidate
By Karen Abrams, MBA, AA, Doctoral Candidate
Kaieteur News- As Guyana continues to experience rapid economic growth, largely fueled by its rapidly growing oil industry, I believe we’re at a critical crossroads. The choices we make now about how we educate our children will determine the strength, resilience, and profitability of our business sector in the decades to come. I’m convinced that no sector stands to benefit more from an improved K–12 education system than corporate Guyana.
Too many of our children are still struggling. The barriers are real and layered – poverty, trauma, lack of access, mental health challenges, under-resourced schools, and minimal parental support are some of the issues which plague our K-12 student population today. In many cases, students are simply not equipped to thrive in today’s classrooms. They fall behind early and never catch up. And unfortunately, when children drop out of school, it sets off a chain of consequences that affect us all.
When young people leave school without the skills they need to succeed, it reduces the size and quality of the available workforce. Businesses are then forced to spend more on training or import talent. It becomes harder to find employees who can communicate clearly, solve problems, use technology, or adapt to new environments. Right now in Guyana, only about 25% of the workforce has education beyond secondary school. This limits not only what companies can achieve but also how fast we can grow and consequently their revenues and profitability.
But imagine what becomes possible when more students stay in school, learn well, and graduate equipped with strong literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. Companies would gain access to a larger pool of talented workers. Innovation would flourish. Productivity would rise. And as more young people gain employment and earn higher incomes, consumer spending would increase, driving profitability for every sector, from banking to retail to hospitality.
This is why I’m encouraging corporate leaders across Guyana to think of education not just as a social issue, but as a smart and critical investment. Supporting afterschool programmes, literacy initiatives, and mentorship programmes isn’t charity, it’s strategy. Every dollar spent helping a child read better, stay in school, or build confidence is a dollar that will return to our economy many times over.
I also believe we have an opportunity to leap ahead using tools like artificial intelligence. In parts of the world, AI is already being used to personalize learning and provide real-time support for students who are struggling. Emad Mostaque, a leading voice in the AI space, said recently that AI has the potential to deliver high-quality education and healthcare to everyone on the planet within a few years. I believe Guyana can be part of that future if we’re bold enough to research, to adopt and to scale these innovations wisely.
Still, AI is only part of the answer. Human connection matters deeply. Many of our children need caring mentors, consistent adult support, and community-based programmes that help them build self-esteem and see possibilities for their future.
I’m calling on Corporate Guyana to step up and be a bigger part of the solution—and I want to thank those businesses that are already leading the way. Let’s work together to expand programmes in the Arts, literacy, and numeracy. Let’s fund after-school activities that give our children safe, supportive spaces to learn and grow. Let’s mentor more students, open our doors to internships, and give them real exposure to career paths. Let’s help build the pipeline of future innovators, problem solvers, and leaders—right here at home. When businesses invest in education, they’re not just helping children, they’re investing in their own workforce, their communities, and the future of this country.
A stronger education system means a stronger economy. And right now, as Guyana stands on the edge of historic growth, we must make sure every child has a chance to succeed, and that every business understands the role it can play in making that happen, and how that role offers the potential for a staggering return on investment.
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