Charity, Lower and Upper Pomeroon residents eager for GOAL scholarships

Residents from Charity, Lower and Upper Pomeroon and other areas turned out in their numbers at the Charity Secondary School on Saturday to learn about the Government’s 20,000 online scholarships programme.  

This programme is made possible through a partnership between the Ministries of Education and Public Service, and would be facilitated through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Nigel Dharamlall, who launched the programme at Charity, told the prospective scholars the initiative is an investment in the nation’s youth. The initiative, he said, would ensure Guyana’s prosperity and create opportunities for future generations as envisioned by the PPP/C Government.

“I think this is probably the most important investment our Government would be making in the eight-plus months being in Government, and I think moving forward it is going to be one of the most seminal investments that we will make.

I say so because education is the only asset that we take with us everywhere that you go and we believe that as a Government, we must continue to train young people at different levels.”

Minister Dharamlall commended the youths for interest, noting that it is a significant step for them to attain tertiary education, particularly during this pandemic.

“It is difficult, especially when you’re from rural areas where our families have to spend an inordinate amount of resources to take care of boarding, lodging, tuition fees, and all the other things that go with full-time studies,” he said.

Deputy Director of the GOAL with responsibility for student affairs, Mr. Ronald Singh said the Government would take every step to ensure each scholar’s success.

“This idea which is the Guyana Online Academy of Learning, is not only inspiring but it is coming at a time when few people realise that Guyana is going through an education revolution.”

It is anticipated that within one year tutoring services will be made available to the scholars.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Ms.  Vilma da Silva urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunity to pursue their education. 

She also appealed to them to observe the gazetted COVID-19 Measures to reduce transmission of the disease. Earlier this week, Ms. da Silva had been contemplating locking down the Region to stem rising Covid positive cases.

Currently, 8,900 persons in Region Two has been vaccinated against COVID-19.