The Government of Guyana’s flagship Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme has awarded 54,793 scholarships since its launch in 2021, more than double its original target of 20,000 scholarships over a five-year period, according to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

Speaking at the afternoon session of the fourth GOAL graduation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday, Dr Singh hailed the programme as a transformative initiative that has expanded access to tertiary and postgraduate education for thousands of Guyanese.

The latest graduating class comprised 3,876 students, including 2,858 women. Among the graduates were 836 master’s degree recipients and 35 doctorate graduates—the first batch of PhD holders produced through the GOAL programme. Another 1,150 persons completed the GROW programme, which provides an alternative pathway to university education.