“That’s a big deal for Region 6. It’s a big deal for Region 2. It’s a big deal for our nation,” said Minister of Education Sonia Parag, highlighting the expansion of the University of Guyana’s engineering programmes in the two regions.
Speaking at the Johns Science Centre in Region 6, part of the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, Minister Parag called the initiative “significant and a historic day for the Ministry of Education, the Government of Guyana and the University of Guyana.”
The regional programmes will allow students to “remain in their village, remain in their region and be able to access higher education,” the Minister added.
“A number of people have been messaging me as to when the programme is coming in Region 6, Region 2. The students themselves want to remain in their village, remain in their region and be able to access higher education and that’s what we really want to do for our people and our nation.”
The expansion follows a surge in University of Guyana applications after tuition was made free in January 2025.
“Just over 16,000 applications the University of Guyana received in 2025 and as a result, they could not have accommodated by seating all of those persons who applied and who are eligible,” Minister Parag said.
To meet the growing demand, the Government and University have created additional seats in multiple regions. An orientation session was held in Region 2 at the Essequibo Technical Institute, which “will accommodate more than 40 or even 50 students in the engineering field.”
The Region 6 programme is set to accommodate more than 50 students.
Minister Parag said the initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure access to education at all levels.
“We want to give them access, whether it’s at the primary level, the secondary level or the tertiary level and ensure that they do get a higher education, that they are able to be a part of the transformation of this country and so I’m so proud today to be a part of this,” she said.
The PPP/C government has advanced tertiary education in Guyana by making programmes free at the University of Guyana and technical institutes nationwide, while also providing full scholarships through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), greatly expanding access to higher education across all regions.
