IN a timely release of figures to mark World Population Day 2026, the Bureau of Statistics has presented compelling evidence that continued investment in education and youth development is yielding tangible results for Guyana.
But the good numbers reflect a larger national story, one of a country deliberately constructing its future by equipping its young people with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
Perhaps the most striking figures are the 56.7 per cent increase in the number of young people obtaining bachelor’s degrees or equivalent qualifications between the third quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2024, and the significant drop in the number of young people considered not in education, employment or training (NEET), from 35.7 per cent to 25 per cent over the same period.
These are not just statistical improvements. They are the lives of thousands of young Guyanese being transformed through greater access to education, training and employment opportunities.
Every student who stays in school, every graduate who joins the workforce and every young entrepreneur who starts a business is a contribution to a stronger, more resilient nation.
For decades, youth unemployment and lack of educational opportunities had been a bane for developing countries.
The growing population can be either a demographic dividend or a demographic burden, depending on the policies followed.
It looks as though Guyana is more and more set in making sure its youth is one of its biggest assets and not its biggest lost opportunity.
The government’s strategy has been to remove many of the financial barriers that have historically prevented families from accessing quality education.
Free education from nursery to university level has become a fundamental national policy, backed by huge investments in school infrastructure, digital learning platforms and financial assistance for families.
The expansion of the Because We Care grant, school uniform and supplies support, subsidised CSEC and CAPE examination fees, and the National School Feeding Programme is an acknowledgement that educational success is dependent not only on what happens in the classroom, but also on ensuring that children have the support that they need to attend school and stay there.
Equally important has been the dramatic expansion of access to higher education. The Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) has seen applications to the University of Guyana soar and has disbursed over 54,000 scholarships, signalling the rising aspirations of young Guyanese and an unprecedented drive to expand access to higher education.
But today education reaches far beyond the traditional academic credentials. Guyana’s economy is being diversified, with major investments in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, technology and services, and the demand for technically skilled workers continues to grow.
Programmes such as the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), the Youth Entrepreneurial and Skills Training (YEST) initiative and the Presidential Award for Youth, Entrepreneurship and Robotics (PAYR), are helping to bridge the education-employment gap by providing young people with practical, industry-relevant skills.
Importantly, these initiatives also acknowledge that not all young people are going to take a traditional university route. Technical education, vocational training and entrepreneurship are all vital elements of national development, especially in an economy that is rapidly changing structurally.
Equal significance should be attached to the government’s focus on entrepreneurship.
Policymakers are creating an environment where young people are being empowered not just to get jobs, but to create jobs by encouraging innovation, providing business training and assisting with access to grants and soon to financing through the proposed Guyana Development Bank.
These kinds of investments have wider ramifications for national development.
A better educated and skilled workforce increases productivity, improves the ability of the country to maximise the benefits of its growing economy and enhances competitiveness.
It also promotes social mobility, reduces inequality and increases national cohesion.
The Bureau of Statistics’ findings also point to another important reality: good policy-making is based on good data.
As Chief Statistician Errol La Cruz correctly pointed out, labour-market information enables governments to better align education and training with the changing needs of the economy. For Guyana to maintain this momentum and prepare for the challenges ahead, evidence-based decision-making is critical.
Of course, success should not lead to complacency. The decline in the NEET rate is promising, but one in four young people are still classified as such.
This remains a large segment that must be catered for through focused interventions, increased job opportunities and sustained investment in education and skills development.

Similarly, higher university enrolment and scholarship opportunities must be matched by efforts to ensure that graduates are able to find meaningful employment that utilises their qualifications.
Investment in human capital pays off most when education is well connected to economic opportunities.
But the trend is clearly up. Guyana is demonstrating that investing in people yields tangible results.
As the nation undergoes an unprecedented economic transformation, ensuring that young Guyanese have the knowledge, skills and confidence to fully participate in that progress will remain one of the country’s greatest responsibilities.
The latest figures offer reason for hope. They show that when governments put education, skills development and opportunity first, young people respond. In doing so, they are not only improving their own prospects but also laying a firm foundation for Guyana’s future prosperity.