Wed, Jul 15, 2026
Wed, Jul 15, 2026
900 students contacted, offered programmes at other universities following GOAL partnership change
The Ministry of Education and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) have reached out to 900 students offering opportunities to transfer credits to other universities following its recent announcement of ending its partnership with the International School of Distance Education (ISDC) and the University of Staffordshire.
In the initial statement issued by the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), it was confirmed that affected students could transfer to alternative institutions willing to accept the credits they earned.
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo confirmed this and reassured the 1,400 impacted students. He said the 500 remaining students would soon be contacted.
“The affected students will retain their earned credits and will continue their education seamlessly through the new institutions,” Dr. Jagdeo affirmed on Thursday at a press conference.
Despite the disruption, Dr. Jagdeo expressed confidence that the Ministry of Education is working diligently to contact the remaining 500 students, who will also be offered suitable alternatives in the near future.
In a strong show of support for the Director of GOAL, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, Dr. Jagdeo defended him against criticism.
He commended Opadeyi’s robust academic credentials and professional capabilities, rejecting disparaging remarks aimed at him. “I firmly believe in Professor Opadeyi’s abilities. He has a solid academic background,” said Dr. Jagdeo.
He reassured students that the government is committed to ensuring that they will not suffer any negative consequences as a result of this transition.
Between 2021 and 2024, GOAL awarded a total of 29,758 scholarships, with the number of scholarships granted increasing each year. In particular, the scholarships saw a significant growth of 32.4%, rising from 6,280 in 2021 to 8,316 in 2024. The most notable increase occurred between 2021 and 2022, when the number of scholarships granted grew by 18%.