Women continue to outnumber men at UG, dominate GOAL scholarships 

Women are graduating from the University of Guyana in greater numbers than men and are also taking the majority of government-funded scholarships, according to Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud.

The Minister made the disclosure Wednesday while delivering the keynote address at the Guyana Women & Girls Summit (GWAGS) 2026 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Persaud said the growing number of women in higher education signals important progress in gender equality and leadership development.

“We are seeing women emerging from the University of Guyana in larger percentages than men,” Persaud told the audience.

She also revealed that 73% of scholarships under the Government Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) have been awarded to women pursuing studies in diverse fields.

According to Persaud, this trend is helping to reshape leadership in Guyana’s rapidly developing economy.

“With that emergence should come empowerment,” she said, noting that women are increasingly becoming leaders in industries, chambers, and professional sectors that historically had limited female representation.

Persaud urged young women to take advantage of opportunities created by the country’s development, particularly in emerging sectors such as construction, engineering, law, and business.

“See yourself embracing the opportunities that women two or three decades before you never had,” she said.

She encouraged girls to pursue careers beyond traditional roles and to take advantage of free tertiary education opportunities through UG and government scholarship programmes.

The summit, hosted by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG), brought together young women, entrepreneurs, and national leaders under the theme “Safe. Seen. Supported.”

Persaud emphasized that women must be active partners in Guyana’s rapid development, particularly as the country experiences economic expansion in sectors like oil and gas, infrastructure, and services.