-US Ambassador says; commends PPP/C Gov’t for ensuring every Guyanese has access to education

WITH Guyana achieving the milestone of being able to provide accessible and world-class education to all Guyanese regardless of their circumstances, United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, has said that Guyana is transforming right before our eyes.

She made this remark during the official launch of the Guyana Coursera Platform on Friday at the National Stadium.

The Ambassador stated: “Guyana is transforming right before our eyes and in order to sustain this trajectory of growth and development while ensuring inclusion, it’s critical that every Guyanese person is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to take part in this incredible success story.”

While noting that education has always been the cornerstone of progress and development, she further affirmed that is the key to unlocking doors of opportunities while empowering people.

However, Theriot said that with the world rapidly evolving, the traditional methods of education are insufficient.

“We are living in an era of a global marketplace with unprecedented technological development, where the demands of the workforce are constantly changing. To thrive in such an environment, we must adapt and embrace life-long learning. Recognising this, I commend his Excellency, President Ali, Minister Singh and the Government of Guyana in their work to ensure that every Guyanese person has access to education here in the country,” the Ambassador said.

She also lauded the fact that Guyana chose to partner with the global massive open online course provider, Coursera, which is an “outstanding US education company with an excellent, proven record in making significant impacts around the world, including already here in Guyana.”

Theriot said: “With the pace of growth we are witnessing, it is critical that everyone in Guyana regardless of their background, their circumstances, their geographical location, has access to quality education and the tools they need to succeed and contribute to Guyana’s incredible growth.”

The ambassador added: “By harnessing the power of technology we can reach learners in every corner of the country, bridging the gap between Georgetown and the hinterland, empowering individuals to chart their own path to success and adding to the collective effort of Guyana in transforming the economy and the country.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coursera, Jeff Maggioncalda, said: “It’s exciting for me to be here in Guyana, a country undergoing an incredible economic transformation under the energetic leadership of President Irfaan Ali. His administration is making a pivotal investment to ensure that the nation’s prosperity is shared by all of its citizens.”

The CEO added that this will be the kind of transformative effort that few countries in the world have ever experienced, where education and skill development are not just priorities, but the very foundation of the nation’s future.

He stated that through their partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning and Guyana’s Ministry of Education, Guyana has set a record among all of the countries on Coursera.

“We saw 15,000 enrolments from Guyanese learners, almost two per cent of the entire population of the country in the first 10 days. Over 46,000 Guyanese citizens have learned new skills through the programme, earning over 50,000 certificates in job-related fields including business, technology, and data science,” he stated.