The government’s scholarship programme, Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) was on Saturday introduced in Region Three.
The outreach was led by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, at the Leonora Synthetic Track and Field Facility. Scores of young people dominated the audience at the brief ceremony where Manickchand told the gathering that education brings a sense of independence and dignity, especially to young men and women. “Anything that allows you to be able to earn for yourselves, to be able to look after yourself and your children… grab it,” she urged. While adding, “There is no better feeling of dignity and pride than to be able to look after yourself and your family. Any opportunity you get to further your study that will help you to earn better, grab it, like this one.”
The minister said that the idea to offer 20,000 online scholarships to Guyanese was birthed as a manifesto promise by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic during the 2020 election campaign. She explained that the government went from village to village, community to community and asked what could be done to advance the country.
“It was a promise that we will deliver learning opportunities to Guyanese all across Guyana at no cost to the students,” Manickchand said before adding that the target is not PPP/C supporters but Guyanese in every region who will be benefitting from the scholarships. “We are not here to serve PPP supporters alone or to serve the parents of students who are here who voted for us. We are here to serve every single Guyanese regardless of how you voted, regardless of where you live, regardless of how you pray, regardless of your gender, regardless of your colour. We are here to serve every Guyanese,” the Education Minister affirmed.
According to Manickchand, through GOAL – led by Dr Jacob Opadeyi, Guyana will be collaborating with universities from Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean to offer over 80 programmes.
Another convenience the scholarship offers is that it’s completely paid for by the Government. “You don’t have to pay for it. You don’t have to pay the application fee. You don’t have to pay the tuition fee. You don’t have to pay the fees for the certificate. You don’t have to pay for this programme. As a Government we are paying for it and we believe that is us buying for you a brighter future. That is our investment in you,” Manickchand declared. The minister also informed that persons who will be awarded scholarships under this specific programme will not be bound to the Government of Guyana upon completion. Noting that under the Jagdeo administration, persons who were awarded scholarships were expected to return and work for the government, Manickchand stated, “This programme does not bind you to the Government of Guyana,” instead, awardees will be asked to give voluntary service to the country by working either with the government, through organisations associated with the government, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, and other organisations which be made known when the time comes, she said.
According to Manickchand, the government hopes this will bring forward a new spirit of volunteerism. “We hope that when we do that a new spirit of volunteerism is born in Guyana. So that whenever there is a need in these organisations, you, the 20,000 of you who will benefit from this, will rise up to that need and will be an example to other citizens about how they can use their time voluntarily to contribute to the needs of our country and her people.”
Indar spoke of his humble beginnings and that he wished such an opportunity was available to him when he was growing up. He encouraged residents to take the next step at developing themselves so that they could improve their standard of living and enjoy a better life.
Member of Parliament, Dr Tandika Smith gave testimony to the opportunities scholarships can provide and encouraged persons to apply. “I am a beneficiary of the Jagdeo scholarship way back in the early 2000. I am a natural out [of] Pomeroon Region Two, it is a riverain area,” she stated, explaining that through scholarships she was able to study medicine in Cuba as part of the 5,000 persons who also received scholarships when Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo was the president. Smith said that there are challenges faced with scholarships but the outcome makes it worth it. “It is a life-changing opportunity. It says that this government is working for you and in the best interest of your families.”
During Saturday’s outreach, several persons submitted their applications and Manickchand urged that Guyanese apply by visiting the GOAL website at www.goal.edu.gy to be among the 4,500 yearly scholarship awardees over the next five years.