There’s good news for students and families across Guyana: the government will now reimburse the cost of up to eight subjects for those who sat this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
The announcement came from President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday during the ceremonial reopening of Christ Church Secondary School—a symbolic location, given its history of nurturing generations of students.
Back in April, the President had hinted at this plan. Now it’s official.
“These are policies that we are embracing; this is the future that we are creating,” President Ali told the gathering. “We don’t wait for events to invest in people and their future. We are not a seasonal presence in your lives.”
The move follows an impressive academic year for Guyana. In 2024, local students secured top spots in 13 CSEC subject areas, ranking among the best across the Caribbean. CAPE candidates also continued a strong tradition of high performance.
Since taking office in 2020, the government has made sweeping changes in the education sector aimed at reducing inequality and boosting student success. These include free access to quality textbooks, expansion of the Learning Channel into remote communities, and the reintroduction—and increase—of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant to support families with school-aged children.
Parents and educators alike say these interventions are already making a difference. With the added financial relief on exam fees, many believe even more students will be encouraged to aim high.
“This is more than policy—it’s real help that takes pressure off families,” one parent said. “We’ve never seen this level of investment before.”
