– As 276 graduate through GOAL
For residents of Guyana’s hinterland communities, pursuing higher education once often meant leaving home, relocating to the coast, or putting academic ambitions on hold altogether.
Now, they are pursuing their dreams through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) free of cost.
Among the more than 3,800 graduates celebrated at the 4th GOAL graduation ceremony on Tuesday were 276 persons from hinterland regions, many of whom earned qualifications while continuing to live and work in their own communities.
For example, Roland Lewis of Region One graduated with a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Education.
“I feel that I have achieved whatever I set out to do. And this is not just for me, it’s [for my] community [and] country,” he said.
Lewis reflected on how opportunities for higher education have expanded in recent years.
“Seven to eight years back, you would not have had this kind of opportunity,” he explained.
With access to internet services, IT hubs and online learning platforms, tertiary education has become more attainable for persons living in remote communities.
“You have cultural barriers, you have economic barriers, you have geographical barriers. This GOAL cuts across all of that,” he said.
Lewis has just completed his master’s degree and has already enrolled in a PhD programme, a testament to the possibilities created through expanded access to education by the government.
His story was echoed by Eslyn Williams of Region Eight, who graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Health.
A nurse for several years, Williams described the achievement as a significant milestone in her professional journey.
“I’m really happy, and it’s been a privilege to be able to accomplish this great achievement, which is a master’s in public health,” she said.
The qualification, she noted, represents years of dedication to both her profession and her personal development.
Meanwhile, Aron Stephen, a resident of Karaudarnau in Deep South Rupununi in Region Nine, earned his third certificate through the GOAL programme.
He said, “The GOAL scholarship has given me an opportunity to expand my education, my vision.”
As Guyana continues to expand access to educational opportunities through digital learning, graduates such as Lewis, Williams and Stephen demonstrate how higher education is reaching communities across the country, regardless of geography.
For the 276 hinterland graduates who crossed the stage this year, the achievement reflects the growing opportunities now available within their own communities.