IN a time when education is the most powerful tool to transform societies and break cycles of poverty, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is placing its bets squarely on the nation’s children and their potential.

Vice President and General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s announcement of a proposed student transportation grant is not merely a campaign promise, it is the latest chapter in a sweeping vision to reshape education in Guyana.

With election season approaching, education is emerging as a key issue, rightfully so. Families across Guyana continue to face economic burdens that impact school attendance, performance, and opportunities for advancement.

The proposed transportation grant, aimed at easing the cost of getting children to and from school, speaks directly to the lived reality of many families.

It is a tangible intervention designed to remove yet another barrier to access, just as the government has done with free tertiary education, paid exam fees, and expanded school-feeding programmes.

If implemented, the grant would join a suite of initiatives that already define this government’s education policy.

Consider the numbers: government spending on education has surged from $53 billion to a record $185 billion in just five years.

More than 3,000 teachers have been added to the workforce, and performance at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) has reached its best in history. These are not accidental outcomes; they are the result of strategic investment, political will and a clear roadmap.

The Vice President’s articulation of a tech-forward education system is also noteworthy. The idea of using Artificial Intelligence to personalise learning for each student is ambitious but necessary in a world increasingly reliant on technology.

This future-oriented approach reflects a deeper understanding: that education must evolve beyond buildings and blackboards and embrace tools that can unlock each child’s full potential.

What makes this moment pivotal is not just the promises being made, but the track record that underpins them.

The PPP/C, through its GOAL scholarship programme, has already opened higher learning opportunities to over 39,000 Guyanese.

The removal of tuition fees at the University of Guyana has fulfilled a long-standing manifesto pledge, benefiting over 11,000 students. These actions lend credibility to the government’s assertion that what it promises, it intends to deliver.

As Dr Jagdeo rightly noted, education reform in Guyana is no longer about access alone—it is about quality, equity, and relevance.

The vision being put forward goes beyond “world-class” rhetoric. It seeks to build a system where no child is left behind, regardless of geography, family income, or academic aptitude.

Of course, the true test of any policy lies in its execution. As with all campaign promises, the electorate must scrutinise the details and demand transparency. But it is hard to ignore the momentum already gained. The consistent rollout of education initiatives has laid a solid foundation, and the student transportation grant is a logical next step.

For parents, this grant could mean more than financial relief, it could mean peace of mind, knowing that education is within reach for their children. For students, it could mean fewer missed school days and more energy spent learning than worrying about the journey to school. And for Guyana, it could mean a better-educated, more competitive workforce ready to shape the nation’s future.

As Guyana stands at a crossroads, the question for voters is not simply which party has the boldest vision, but which one has delivered—and continues to deliver—on the promise of education for all. If recent history is any indication, the PPP/C has made education not only a priority, but a cornerstone of national development.

In the race toward progress, education is the fuel; and this government, it seems, is determined to keep the engine running.