–President Ali says, points to govt’s plans to negotiate with private tertiary institutions to ensure affordable rates for all

WITH the University of Guyana (UG) receiving over 20,000 applications for the academic year, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that the government will begin engaging private tertiary institutions to ensure students are not left behind or left out.

Speaking at a public meeting last week, President Ali said the administration is engaging with all private universities in the country, including new medical schools and international institutions, to discuss ways of supporting students.

“We have taken a decision that every single private university, all of the universities, whether it’s the new medical schools, whether it is international universities that we are going to negotiate with them, similar so that no child who wants a university education will be left without an education,” the President stated.
He noted that given the number of applications to UG, alternative pathways must be considered and provided.

“We have trained more than 82,000 Guyanese, almost 40,000 alone, on the GOAL scholarship programme,” he said.
Starting with the 2025/26 academic year, tuition at the University of Guyana became officially free for all students, including those pursuing Diplomas, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees.

This policy reflects a major PPP/C manifesto commitment fulfilled, designed to make tertiary education more accessible to students across UG’s campuses and online platforms.
The initiative took effect on January 1, 2025, with significant funding allocated in the 2025 national budget to support it.

Prior to full implementation, a phased approach was announced in 2024 to transition into free university education, addressing existing student loan repayments first and then fully abolishing tuition fees.

The government has stressed that this initiative is a planned, structured effort contrasting with previous administrations which increased fees instead of providing free tertiary education.
The Head of State also highlighted the government’s efforts in expanding educational access through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL scholarship programme.

The programme initially promised 20,000 scholarships but has since expanded, distributing over 39,000 scholarships covering certificate to PhD-level programs. This initiative enhances access to education and lifelong learning opportunities for all Guyanese, irrespective of economic background.

The GOAL programme partners with reputable institutions such as the University of the West Indies Open Campus, University of the Southern Caribbean, Indira Gandhi National Open University, and others, offering flexible timelines from two months to three years.

The government also plans to modernise and expand technical and vocational training, implement digital and AI-powered personalised learning strategies, and increase financial support for students, including school transportation grants and expanded cash support programmes for families.