UNIVERSAL secondary education will soon become a reality, according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who explained that the government’s transformative policies is pushing the education sector forward.

The General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice-President made these revelations to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, Georgetown.

The VP explained that all children will be placed in a secondary school and will be supported by the government to write Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations- which is now fully funded by the government.

Dr. Jagdeo also took time to congratulate this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) students. He praised the tireless efforts of parents and teachers, underscoring the critical role they play in the life of each child.

However, he said that a single exam should not be seen as the final word on a child’s potential.

Reflecting on the country’s history, he recalled when the PPP first took office, only 35 per cent of the students taking the NGSA were placed in secondary schools, leading to the remaining persons’ education being affected.

Despite criticisms from the opposition and those aligned, Dr. Jagdeo pointed to how investments in the education sector by the PPP have resulted in a positive trend for the sector.

“We are giving every child the opportunity to succeed,” he said.

Moreover, the vision for education goes beyond access as Dr. Jagdeo touted plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tailor learning needs for all children, among other ideas.

He said: “All of the students who took the NGSA this year, by the time they’re ready to write the CXC, whether they got 50 per cent or over 50 per cent or less than 50 per cent at this assessment, they’ll all go on to write the CXC…by the time they’re ready to do that, they reach the age to do that, we’ll have universal secondary education.”

The government’s education reform plans include a digital school, free tertiary education and the expansion of the school feeding programme. With these already achieved, transportation assistance for students, and a complete overhaul of the curriculum to ensure modern, personalised and accessible learning will be pursued.