Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips underscored the importance of education as a driver of personal advancement and national development during his address at the Guyana Online Academy of Learning’s (GOAL) fourth graduation ceremony.
Held under the theme ‘Academic Acceleration for National Development’, the event saw 3,876 Guyanese graduate across academic, vocational, and professional programmes.
In congratulating the graduates, Prime Minister Phillips said their achievement reflects the Government’s continued commitment to investing in people and expanding access to opportunities across Guyana. He noted that while national development is often discussed in terms of roads, bridges, ports, and industries, the progress of any country ultimately depends on the development of its people.
“Education is the catalyst that makes those possibilities real. That is why this Government has placed education at the centre of national development.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that since GOAL’s establishment in 2021, the programme has exceeded its original target of awarding 20,000 scholarships by 2025. To date, 54,793 scholarships have been awarded.
He also recognised the 1,150 graduates of the Get Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW) programme, which provides another pathway for persons who were unable to complete secondary school, sit CSEC, or achieve the results they had hoped for.
“For many people, setbacks at an early stage of life can feel permanent, but GROW rejects that idea and encourages exactly what it stands for: growth despite previous challenges.”
The Prime Minister added: “Among you, we have many mothers who have returned to their studies after years away from the classroom, young men and women who discovered new paths and decided they wanted to pursue them, and people from hinterland communities who no longer see geography as a barrier to opportunity.”
As Guyana develops, he noted, demand for skilled workers continues to increase, particularly in technical services, logistics, accounting, education, information technology, and maritime transportation. He pointed to the 1,308 graduates from vocational and certificate programmes, the 76 graduates of the ACCA Foundation Programme, and the 61 cadets who completed the associate degree in Maritime Transportation.
The Prime Minister further reminded that the Government continues to make significant investments in education, including the $183.6 billion allocated to the sector in this year’s national budget to support schools, scholarships, digital learning, and teacher development.
He encouraged the graduates to continue developing their skills and to use their knowledge to contribute to their communities and country.
“Let your achievements also remind every Guyanese that education remains one of the surest pathways to personal advancement and national progress.”
The Prime Minister extended appreciation to parents, spouses, children, and loved ones for their support, and commended the leadership and staff of GOAL for their continued work in expanding educational opportunities for Guyanese.