–over 3,800 persons conferred with certificates, degrees

–fourth graduation ceremony ushers in first batch of doctoral graduates as Guyana’s human capital transformation continues

THE Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme has significantly surpassed its initial target of awarding 20,000 scholarships within its first five years, with close to 55,000 scholarships now granted and thousands of Guyanese benefitting from expanded access to higher education.

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh announced the achievement while delivering the feature address at GOAL’s fourth graduation ceremony, where 3,876 graduates were conferred with qualifications from certificates to doctoral degrees.

Dr. Singh noted that this was a staggering figure, indicating that the latest graduating class reflects both the growth of the programme and the transformation of educational access across Guyana.

“Today we are graduating 3,876 persons, and that alone is worthy of resounding applause,” he said.

The senior minister highlighted the diverse makeup of the graduating class, noting that graduates represented all regions of Guyana and spanned multiple academic disciplines and educational levels.

Among the graduates were 2,858 women, while 1,150 persons completed the GROW programme, the pre-university initiative designed to provide an alternative pathway into tertiary education.

This year’s cohort also included 836 master’s degree recipients and, for the first time since the programme was established, doctoral graduates.

“Today, 35 PhD graduates are the first batch of GOAL doctoral graduates,” Dr. Singh announced while extending special congratulations to the batch.

Against this backdrop, Minister Singh said the graduation milestone reflected the broader vision established by President Dr. Irfaan Ali when the scholarship initiative was introduced, as he added that the programme was conceived to remove long-standing barriers that prevented many Guyanese from pursuing tertiary education.

“When we introduced the GOAL Scholarship Programme, we promised 20,000 scholarships in the first five years. Today, six years later, we have granted 54,790,” he said.

Dr. Singh said GOAL was designed not simply as an educational programme but as a strategic national development initiative focused on building human capital.

The senior minister added, “It was not an experiment in Online education; it was never a convenient policy add-on. It was part of a deliberate strategic vision for national transformation.”

He related that previous generations often faced significant difficulties accessing university education, with many required to leave Guyana or relocate from their communities in order to pursue studies.

GOAL, he noted, sought to eliminate barriers related to geography, cost, employment obligations, and personal circumstances.

“Through GOAL, we brought university education within the reach of your fingertips,” he told graduates.

Dr. Singh noted that the government told Guyanese everywhere that they would no longer need to leave their homes, families or communities to pursue higher education.

He also noted that the programme has created opportunities for persons who may have previously felt that they had missed the chance to further their education.

Addressing graduates directly, Dr. Singh urged them to recognise that their qualifications carried responsibilities beyond personal advancement.

“Your certificate is not merely a piece of paper; your certificate is a responsibility. It is a tool; it is a key. It is about the problems you will solve; it is about the systems you will improve; it is about the communities you will uplift,” he remarked.

The minister further emphasised that Guyana’s development would ultimately depend on the abilities and skills of its people.

Dr. Singh went on to say that while much of the world knows of Guyana because of its natural resources and oil and gas, the country’s finest resource is its human resource.

“Guyana’s finest resources are you,” he said.

That said, he congratulated the graduates and their families for their sacrifices and perseverance throughout their studies, and encouraged them to seize the opportunities emerging in Guyana’s rapidly evolving economy.

“Guyana is building the future, and you are the Guyanese who are building the future,” he remarked.