NO one can deny that the face of Guyana is changing. This is manifested in several facets of our national life, but more so in the changing physical and social landscape, which, within recent years, have been undergoing significant transformation.

But there are also several intangibles that, even though less obvious to the eye, are of no less importance to our national development process. Take, for instance, the recent injection of hundreds of university graduates into the workforce of Guyana under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme. This stock of human capital is a great boost in the national effort to catapult the country to higher levels of development.

The fact is that introducing online education delivery at the university and college level is nothing short of revolutionary. It is a bold and innovative form of education delivery at the tertiary level, for which the PPP/C administration must be given credit.
This embodies the true nature of visionary leadership. It is the aptitude and discernment to strategically position the country at the forefront of technological progress.

At a much more fundamental level, such developments are in consonance with the PPP/C’s philosophy of democratising education delivery, making it much more accessible to Guyanese from all walks of life and from all socio-economic backgrounds.

It was precisely this mindset that prompted the founding of the University of Guyana in 1963 during the PPP administration, despite the nation’s continued subjugation to colonial governance. Numerous individuals, particularly those within the political opposition, derided the notion of a university that was mockingly referred to by the PNC as ‘Jagan’s Night School’.

This name was given due to the majority of classes being conducted in the evenings to accommodate students who were employed and to optimize the use of public facilities outside of regular working hours.

Before the university was established, only a select few students on government scholarships and the affluent few who could afford the expenses of studying abroad had access to higher education. The treasury incurred high costs in order to acquire numerous crucial technical and managerial skills from overseas sources.

A nation on the brink of political independence could not afford to depend on a restricted range of expertise for its development. As a result, the University of Guyana was established and has since become the leading institution of higher education in the country. It offers a diverse range of academic fields, such as medicine, law, and engineering.

As our nation undergoes the crucial process of modernization and transformation, there is an urgent need to expand and enhance our human resource capacity. The PPP/C administration deserves complete recognition for their substantial investment in the development of human capital, a crucial factor for achieving rapid growth.

The current situation in the country entails the emergence of a significant workforce capable of propelling the developmental process, particularly during this period of unparalleled growth and progress.
Just recently, the PPP/C administration made the decision to provide free university education. This is a promising advancement that bodes well for individuals aspiring to advance socially through education.