-Does not believe goal is practical despite thousands of graduates, more qualified Guyanese

LEADER of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, has stated that his party will not support students sitting dozens of subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level, despite Guyana’s significant success and global recognition through this very practice.

Hughes made the statement during a live broadcast on the party’s official Facebook page on Sunday, as he outlined the AFC’s education policy proposals.
“We are not going to encourage children to sit 24 subjects,” Hughes said, referring to students who often sit between 18 and 24 subjects in recent years.
Guyanese students who have sat numerous subjects at CSEC have helped propel the country to the top of the Caribbean in academic performance.

Many of these high achievers have secured scholarships and pursued further studies in medicine, engineering, law, and other competitive fields.
Meanwhile, when asked about plans in relation to education and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and its benefits to Guyanese students, Hughes said that he does not believe it is practical.
“GOAL is not, to me, a practical solution for the Guyana situation,” he said.

His comments come despite the fact that over 30,000 scholarships have been awarded through GOAL since its inception in 2021.
The programme has partnered with international universities to offer a wide range of academic and vocational courses including certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

In the coming days over 6,000 graduates are expected to walk the stage following the completion of their studies under the GOAL initiative.
For 2025, an additional 9,179 scholarships have already been awarded, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to nearly 39,000 Guyanese since 2020.