GEORGE TOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana’s government has launched an online school expected to improve the education of thousands of students in the South American country’s vast and impoverished Amazon region and the wider Caribbean.
More than 30,000 local and regional students are already enrolled in the Guyana Digital School, which offers high school courses but is expected to expand its offerings next year.
“This program will simultaneously provide students across the country with truly quality education across all subject areas. We are also providing free access to our Caribbean neighbours, and we have noticed that even people from India are logging on. This will be a game changer for education in Guyana,” Deputy Chief Education Officer Ritesh Tularam told The Associated Press on Saturday.
He said students “no longer need to go to brick-and-mortar schools for education” and can study basic subjects including science, technology and humanities.
Guyana President Irfaan Ali announced the plan on Friday night, saying it would allow students to use high-quality digital tools for learning.
Turalam said some may question why the government is investing so much in digitalization.
“The future of the world will be digital. The future of the economy will be digital, the future of work will be digital,” he said. “We don’t invest for fads; we don’t invest to please advisors; we don’t invest to blindly follow global trends; we invest because that’s where global opportunities are created.”
The school is not designed to eliminate brick-and-mortar classrooms in Guyana, as Guyana’s national education system is free.
Earlier this year, the oil-rich country announced the restoration of free university education, which had been suspended since the mid-1990s. Officials say the country’s newfound wealth could provide free education, as nearly $10 million a day flows from the oil sector into state coffers.
The new digital school has been welcomed by Caribbean leaders, who praised Ali’s initiative.
“Whether it’s on the coast of Guyana or inland, whether in Barbados, St. Kitts or St. Lucia, we want to ensure that learning is within reach for our children,” said Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Meanwhile, Grenada Prime Minister Deacon Mitchell said he had instructed the education minister to ensure they are actively involved in the new digital schools.