No GOAL scholarship limit – Parag assures Guyanese

The Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) has been hailed as an initiative that supported thousands of Guyanese, and anyone desirous of advancing their studies will be supported by the government, Minister of Education Sonia Parag has said.

“It is now, in the next five years, going to be unlimited scholarships to Guyanese… which is a fantastic thing,” Parag said Monday at a conference focused on quality assurance in higher education, held at the Regency Suites in Georgetown.

Learning opportunities, she reminded the gathering, are available through various means. Parag singled out GOAL as a game-changing initiative that has supported more than 40,000 Guyanese at various levels of study over the last five years. Additionally, tertiary education has been made free locally.

Amid this commitment to expand learning opportunities for Guyanese, Parag said the government is working alongside key stakeholders to ensure that learners all receive high-quality education right in Guyana.

“The next five years will be based on quality and improving quality in the education sector,” she said.

Parag’s address came as educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders discussed the initiatives needed to ensure that tertiary institutions across Guyana provide a high standard of education to all learners. Discussions at this conference include the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the education sector, and what programmes are needed to support the country’s long-term growth better.

Additionally, the Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE)- Guyana Chapter was launched. This body is expected to support capacity-building efforts so that local educational institutions uphold the high standards desired.