Dear Editor,

EDUCATIONAL reform as it relates to accessibility and affordability are the key to changing individual Guyanese lives through education.
A recent, less than two years ago, programme launched by the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), allows Guyanese, regardless of geographic region, race, gender to receive scholarships to pursue certificates, diplomas, undergraduate, and postgraduate degrees through an expanding pool of partnering institutions and universities.

As such, Guyana has tackled the major issues of accessibility and affordability, bringing education to every Guyanese household. Guyana has many communities in remote parts of the country where accessibility is difficult. However, this GOAL programme tackles that issue head-on with the use of technology and innovation.
There is an inherently transformative nature of education for many Guyanese who are participating in the GOAL programme. Certainly, the economic benefits include higher salaries, better job opportunities, and for some, to break the cycle of poverty. It leads to enhanced civic engagement across all races of the Guyanese people.

This is necessary, as Guyana is reaching new heights, economically, and heading into a more inclusive society.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali, a strong advocate for educational reform, has been noted for saying that “Education is not merely a means to secure a job; it is the foundation upon which we build our future, foster critical thinking, and cultivate the spirit of inquiry that drives societal progress.”

His government certainly has pressed forward to bring change to the educational system, impacting every Guyanese across the country.
For Guyana as country to sustain its record economic growth, 36 per cent projected for 2024, it must continue to focus on Guyanese and their skills and knowledge needed for the new economy.

This means preparing everyone to increase their personal development, hence their literacy, critical thinking, and specialised knowledge in emerging fields such as the oil and gas, agriculture, commerce, technology, etc.
GOAL’s objective is to deliver on the personal and professional development of Guyanese by offering 20,000 scholarships by 2025.

Recently, the government announced that approval has been granted for 7,782 GOAL scholarships, and that the successful applicants will be informed, which represents 39 per cent of the goal by 2025.
This is just a remarkable feat, given the newness of the programme to give Guyanese the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
A major feature of the GOAL programme is the diversity of programmes offered through its more than six partnering institutions offering more than 184 undergraduate degrees, 181 master’s degrees, and 109 vocational courses.

This diversity of academic programme offering is not only necessary to offer unique educational opportunities to Guyanese, but also can be done without major investments at the University of Guyana.
Minister Ashni Singh stated that “the GOAL initiative is in keeping with government’s commitment to improve the country’s educational and skills training capacity to match its aggressive economic diversification programme and continued rapid economic growth.”

Economists would argue that unless there is availability of skilled and knowledgeable labour pool, the impressive economic growth cannot be sustained.
Online learning, especially in an asynchronous modality can be daunting for a student returning or attempting to begin a degree, this is why it is necessary to continue to support the GOAL administrative staff, so they can support students.

Metrics to measure outcomes of this programme must include direct measures to assess student learning and application of knowledge in their profession.
For economists like myself, we will the development of the most important ingredient in economic development and that is the human development, the entrepreneurial spirt and the ability to change with times. Guyana’s educational reform policy is doing just that!
Respectfully,
Dr. Tilokie Arnold Depoo,
Economist