January 17, 2025
In a significant move to strengthen Guyana’s education sector, the government has allocated a total of $175 billion for the year 2025.
This funding is set to support initiatives aimed at improving educational access, affordability, and quality across all levels, from primary education to tertiary and vocational training.
A key element of the budget is the increased allocation for the Because We Care (BWC) cash grant, which will now be raised to $50,000 per child.
This initiative will benefit more than 205,000 children enrolled in both public and private schools. In addition, parents will also receive a uniform voucher allowance of $5,000.
With the combination of the cash grant and the uniform voucher, parents will receive a total of $55,000 per child, amounting to an estimated $11 billion in total transfers to families.
The 2025 budget also focuses on tuition-free higher education.
Beginning this year, students currently enrolled at the University of Guyana (UG), as well as all future students, will no longer be required to pay tuition fees.
The initiative, which is expected to cost around $13 billion annually, will benefit approximately 11,000 current students, in addition to new enrollees.
This is part of the government’s broader commitment to delivering free tertiary education during its first term in office.
In line with the push for accessible education, tuition-free education will also be extended to all government-run technical and vocational training institutions.
As of January 2025, both current and prospective students at these institutions will benefit from this initiative, which is expected to serve over 3,000 students.
The budget further allocates funding for the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector.
Over the last four years, $9.5 billion has been spent on expanding and improving TVET programs, with $2.4 billion expended in 2024.
For 2025, an additional $2.6 billion has been allocated to expand access to TVET education, which is intended to help students acquire practical skills for the workforce.
The government is also continuing its commitment to developing digital skills through the One Guyana Digital Program, which trains citizens in high-demand information and communication technology (ICT) skills.
In 2024, 361 students participated in the program, with 126 completing their studies by December.
For 2025, $1.8 billion is set aside to support an additional 1,500 students, who will also receive mentorship and job-search support to help them secure jobs in nearshore ICT markets.
These significant investments are expected to create a more accessible and equitable education system in Guyana, with a focus on improving educational outcomes, expanding access to skills training, and ensuring that students are well-equipped to contribute to the country’s growing economy.