Nearly 3,900 graduate as GOAL surpasses 54,000 scholarships

Jun 24, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Some 3,876 Guyanese graduated from the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) on Tuesday with government announcing that the programme has surpassed its original target, awarding more than 54,000 scholarships since its launch in 2021.

The fourth GOAL graduation ceremony was held at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, where graduates received certificates, diplomas and degrees across a range of disciplines. Of the graduating class, 2,858 were women and 1,018 were men.

The morning session featured the presentation of certificates and bachelor’s degrees, while graduates who completed master’s and other advanced programmes walked the stage during the afternoon session.

Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said the occasion represented not only personal achievement but also Guyana’s broader investment in education and human development.

“It is also an important occasion for Guyana because your success goes beyond individual achievement, reflecting Guyana’s commitment to investing in its people and creating opportunities that were once beyond the reach of many,” Phillips told graduates.

Established in 2021, the GOAL scholarship programme was designed to expand access to quality online education for Guyanese nationwide, with an initial target of awarding 20,000 scholarships between 2021 and 2025.

However, Phillips disclosed that the programme has far exceeded that goal, with 54,793 scholarships awarded to date.

The Prime Minister attributed much of the programme’s success to government investments aimed at ensuring equitable access to education across the country, including expanded internet connectivity in hinterland and remote communities.

“Behind every scholarship there is a story,” Phillips said. “Among you, we have many mothers who have returned to their studies after years away from the classroom, young men and women who discovered new paths and decided they wanted to pursue them, and people from hinterland communities who no longer see geography as a barrier to opportunity.”

The ceremony also recognised graduates of the Getting Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW) programme, with 1,150 individuals successfully completing their studies.

The GROW initiative was introduced to support persons who dropped out of secondary school, were unable to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, or did not achieve their desired examination results.

According to figures presented at the ceremony, 14,884 Guyanese received GROW scholarships between 2021 and 2026. Of that number, 4,291 completed their studies, while 2,538 advanced to bachelor’s degree programmes.

Phillips said the programme’s achievements demonstrate that talent exists in every corner of Guyana and that success often depends on access to educational opportunities.

Additionally, 1,308 graduates completed vocational and certificate programmes aimed at equipping participants with practical skills and improving employability.

The graduating class also included 76 students who completed the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Foundation Course and 61 cadets who earned Associate Degrees in Maritime Transportation.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag highlighted the programme’s nationwide reach, noting that graduates came from all 10 administrative regions.

Region Four accounted for the largest number of graduates with 2,004, followed by Region Three with 609 and Region Six with 350.

The regional breakdown was as follows:

• Region One – 99
• Region Two – 185
• Region Three – 609
• Region Four – 2,004
• Region Five – 191
• Region Six – 350
• Region Seven – 62
• Region Eight – 33
• Region Nine – 82
• Region Ten – 261

Parag commended the graduates for balancing their studies with work, family responsibilities and other challenges.

“It takes courage to return to the classroom. It takes courage to say I am going to try again. It takes courage to study while working, while raising children, while managing responsibilities and while sometimes carrying the weight of people who have doubted you for a long time,” she said.

She encouraged graduates to continue pursuing educational opportunities through the GOAL programme.

“But today no one can take this from you. No negative comment, no criticism, no bad wish and no attempt to make you feel small can remove the education you now carry,” the education minister added. (Modified from DPI)

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• diplomas, GOAL, Guyana Online Academy of Learning, scholarships

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