–      from healthcare and education to agriculture and oil and gas, beneficiaries say programme is helping them better serve their communities

SOME studied after long shifts at work, others logged on from remote villages, and some even studied alongside their families, but on Tuesday they shared one achievement; joining the largest graduating class in the history of the Government of Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

Approximately 3,800 graduates received qualifications ranging from diplomas to master’s degrees during the ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre, marking yet another milestone for the programme’s mission to expand access to higher education across Guyana. Among them were teachers, healthcare workers, and public servants whose academic journeys were driven not only by personal ambition but also by a desire to better serve their communities.

Speaking to this publication following the graduation, their stories highlighted how the GOAL initiative continues to open doors for Guyanese from diverse backgrounds, including those in hinterland and riverine communities, while helping to build skills in fields critical to the country’s development.

Many graduates were joined by family and friends on Tuesday, but for Jermaine Joseph from the township of Bartica, the occasion was made extra special as he graduated alongside his wife, Nikita Nobel-Joseph, both receiving Master’s Degrees in Agile Methodologies and Digital Transformation from Structuralia University in Spain. Joseph, who is currently the Operations Manager for Health Bartica, shared that both he and his wife had to develop discipline to complete their degrees. “Myself and my wife graduated with the same Master’s, we studied together. The only challenge was the self-study. It was mostly self-study and you have to pace yourself and ensure that you stick with any time frame given. It requires discipline,” he said.

Joseph is also passionate about public service and Guyana’s current development trajectory, and with the knowledge gained from his degree, he hopes to give back to Bartica and Guyana as a whole. “The area I studied is in alignment with the government’s agenda as it relates to digital transformation; whether it is a business, government institution, or organisation going digital,” he said, adding, “The Agile Methodology part is about getting things done efficiently and effectively with minimal waste of time. I learned strategies on how to capitalise and get things done very quickly and efficiently, also incorporating cutting-edge technology.”

The impact of the GOAL programme is also helping to create change makers in Guyana’s most far-flung communities. Patricia Peters from the community of St. Ignatius in Region Nine received her Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (STQF) Level Six Diploma from Jain University. Peters shared that she began her journey without all of the necessary CXC subjects, making this qualification a major first step in pursuing higher education, noting “At first, I did other studies, but I did not have certain subjects, so I decided to do that in order to pursue my degree. I am now in my first year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, which is also through the GOAL programme,” she said.

Peters is also currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Guyana, and noted that the added certification will assist her in her work as a crop extension assistant in the agriculture field. Highlighting the benefits that both she and other young people stand to gain, Peters added, “This will help me in a lot of aspects in my field of work, where we have to upgrade ourselves. I reach out to a lot of villages and encourage a lot of youths to take up the study because they can study online at home and do not need to travel to Georgetown. Sometimes I would be tired after a whole day at work and then still have to study,” she said.

For many, the GOAL programme was also an opportunity to pursue long-held passions. Iyodele Hamilton from Timehri received her Master’s in Counselling Psychology from the University of Southern Caribbean, sharing that she was inspired to study in this field by the growing number of mental health cases being seen across Guyana. Hamilton hopes to use the knowledge to drive change.  As she shared, “I pursued this degree because I was thinking about mental health in our country. Guyana has had a lot of cases and it is very prevalent. I am thinking that I will be a change maker, I wanted to study this so that I can help my fellow Guyanese,” she stated.

A teacher by profession, Hamilton noted that counselling is a skill she will carry back into the classroom. With the government working to address rising cases of violence in schools, she wanted to play a hands-on role, sharing, “I am a teacher and I deal with people on a regular basis with mental health. I have had calls to counsel persons when they come to me. It is very much important,” she said. With her Master’s now in hand, Hamilton reflected on what drives graduates to keep pushing forward, noting, “When you do the Bachelor’s, you are just tempted to go on to do your Master’s so that you can gain more knowledge and help people better.”

Kenrick Phillips from Mackenzie was inspired by Guyana’s growth in the oil and gas sector. Graduating with a Master’s in Oil and Gas and Petrochemical Industries, Phillips shared that he sought the degree to gain a deeper understanding of the industry largely driving Guyana’s economy. “Guyana is in the oil and gas sector now and we are boosting our economy, and it is good to be equipped and knowledgeable about what is happening within our country,” he said. A police officer by profession, Phillips noted that as he nears retirement, his degree will position him well for a transition into the sector.

Acknowledging that the journey was challenging at times, Phillips encouraged other professionals to take advantage of the opportunity, noting that through discipline and consistency, any Guyanese can earn a degree that opens new doors. As he shared, “It was challenging, but with consistency, I continued to study and remember where I started. I continued and pushed through. The most challenging part was coming home from work and having to attend classes later in the evening,” encouraging other professionals, he added, “To other professionals, you have to know what you want and never give up on yourself. Continue believing in yourself and know that there is no limit to what you can do.”