WHILE growing up, we were always told that to be successful in life, we must educate ourselves. Education does not only mean going to university and getting a master’s degree or even a doctorate.

One’s educational enhancement can also come in the form of skills training. Not everyone is a ‘book worm’. Some people are good with their hands and do not like being in a classroom setting for too long.

Some people may have met unfortunate circumstances which forced them to drop out of school and returning to a classroom, years later, may be a challenge for them. They may be more inclined to take up a four-week course in an area that interests them or some training programme that lasts for a few months.

This is the nature of the world we live in. This is a reality of life. The Government of Guyana recognises this and as some would say, they have decided to act smartly and create opportunities for all of us to thrive.

Since being elected to office, the government has shown that it is deeply focused on educating this nation; giving each citizen an opportunity to qualify themselves so that they can earn a decent living and can take care of their family, while contributing to the development of Guyana.

Not everyone can work in the oil and gas industry. There are many other sectors that require persons who are knowledgeable and skilled. And perhaps, it is for this reason that educational opportunities are being spread across many sectors.

Opportunities for local and overseas studies whether physical or virtual are plentiful and many must have great difficulty choosing.

There are many things the government has done to publically show that education is a high priority. It has shown that it is willing to pull all the stops to make this possible.

For instance, the Ministry of Education was given the lion’s share of the 2023 National Budget. This is important as it shows that efforts are being made to ensure citizens get the proper foundation.

The Ministry of Education is primarily responsible for nursery, primary and secondary education, as well as the education of trainee teachers at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). It also has some oversight of the University of Guyana (UG).

Though many would argue that a sizeable portion of the $74.4 billion approved for education sector will go towards rebuilding and rehabilitating schools, they have clearly failed to see the importance of proper infrastructure being in place.

Children cannot learn under cramped or any other unfavourable condition. The learning environment must not only be children-friendly, but it must motivate one to become educated.

Further, the reforming of the school curriculum and the expansion of the teachers’ training programmes are integral to the education process. These are catered for in the 2023 budget.

In addition to continuously focusing on providing the ministry with all the resources it needs, the government has created the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which offers scholarships. So far, thousands have benefitted from this initiative which falls under the Public Service Ministry.

This year, the government has set aside a large sum to ensure many more can benefit.

According to subject minister, Sonia Parag, the beneficiaries include around 894 persons in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 191 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 46 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 143 in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 527 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Many more in Georgetown and other regions including Region Four would have benefitted as well.

Previously, thousands of Guyanese completed free Coursera online programmes. The government, through the Ministry of Education, collaborated with the Commonwealth of Learning to provide free access to online courses offered by Ivy League and other reputable universities through Coursera. Many persons, in capitalising on this opportunity, signed up for several courses and were able to successfully complete them.

Another sign of the government’s commitment to ensuring Guyana’s citizens are educated and can earn a living, is the provision of resources to the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) which falls under the Ministry of Labour. There are dozens of training programmes in fields such as building, engineering, home economics and information technology that are available. They can be found on BIT’s website.

The education of children and adults should be every country’s highest national priority. After all, an educated nation is without a doubt a prosperous nation.