A BOLD push by the Ministry of Education to expand physical education in secondary schools is paying off in a big way — and golf is emerging as an unlikely star of the programme.
As this year’s CSEC Physical Education (PE) examinations approach, a growing number of students across Guyana are choosing golf as their sport of choice — a trend that is surpassing expectations and setting regional records.
This success was on full display today at the Nexgen Golf Academy, where Rosignol Secondary School continued its impressive streak by recording the highest number of students taking golf for their PE exam. For the fourth consecutive year, all 71 of Rosignol’s CSEC PE students opted for golf.
Launched in 2021 through a partnership between the Ministry of Education, the Guyana Golf Association, and Nexgen Golf Academy, the programme has seen phenomenal growth. What started with just 116 students has now ballooned to over 400 learners set to take golf in 2025 — a figure larger than the entire Caribbean region combined.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, expressed her satisfaction with the growing interest in golf, noting that the initiative supports the Ministry’s goal of ensuring every child has access to sport.
“This proves that our learners are capable and willing to engage in physical education, and we are excited about the trend that is taking place,” Minister Manickchand said. “Our mandate is that every child must have access to a sport during their formative years, and I am extremely pleased to see the uptake in golf.”
Students from schools including Anna Regina, Abram Zuil, Berbice Educational High, Berbice High, Bushlot, Friendship Secondary, Queen’s College, President’s College, and Tucville Secondary have all submitted candidates for golf this year.
Looking ahead, the Ministry anticipates that by 2026, over 1,000 students will select golf as their PE elective — a remarkable projection for a sport that just four years ago was virtually non-existent in the school system.
Even more noteworthy is the significant female participation in the programme, with over 62 percent of the golf candidates being young women — breaking stereotypes and engaging a demographic that traditionally has been harder to attract to sports.
As Guyana’s PE programme continues to evolve, golf is proving to be more than just a sport — it’s becoming a symbol of access, inclusion, and opportunity for students across the country.