MP GORDON SAYS HE IS BEST SUITED TO CRITICIZE THE GOAL PROGRAM AS A BENIFICIARY

By Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — In a rare instance of an opposition member speaking from personal experience as a program participant, Gordon Barker, WIN Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Education, has offered a balanced but critical review of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL). While acknowledging the program’s potential, Barker warned that the government’s $5.8 billion investment is being undermined by a lack of accreditation and language barriers.

Barker, who revealed over the weekend that he is a recipient of a GOAL scholarship, argued that his firsthand perspective allows him to see past the “pro-people rhetoric” to the practical hurdles students face.

The Accreditation Crisis

The most explosive claim made by the Shadow Minister involves the legitimacy of the degrees being issued. Barker highlighted that several international universities partnered with GOAL are reportedly not accredited—either within Guyana or internationally.

• Wasted Effort: Students are investing years of study only to discover their qualifications are not recognized by local or foreign employers.
• Gaining Employment: Barker noted that the ultimate goal of the scholarship is social mobility, which is impossible if the certificate carries no weight in the professional world.
• Call for Scrutiny: “Value for money is important,” Barker stressed, reminding the House that the $5.8 billion allocated to GOAL belongs to the taxpayers, not the administration.

Language and Support Barriers

Beyond the legal standing of the degrees, MP Barker pointed to significant operational failures that hinder student success:

• Language Barriers: Many courses offered through international partnerships are not optimized for English-speaking Guyanese students, leading to high frustration and dropout rates.
• Administrative Gaps: Barker called for better student support services to navigate the complexities of online learning with institutions located thousands of miles away.

“UG First”: A Push for Regional Excellence

Echoing sentiments shared by fellow opposition members like Dr. David Hinds, Barker advocated for a “re-prioritization” of funds. He believes that instead of funneling billions to overseas institutions through GOAL, the focus should shift to the University of Guyana (UG).

Barker’s Vision for UG:

1. Full Accreditation: Ensure every single department and program at UG meets international accreditation standards.
2. Resource Allocation: Increase the UG subvention (currently $14.5 billion) to meet the $21.2 billion requested by the university administration.
3. Caribbean Leadership: Leverage Guyana’s oil wealth to propel UG to the top tier of Caribbean universities, rivaling institutions like UWI.

“We have the resources, and now is the right time to do it,” Barker concluded. “The focus should be on building a world-class local institution that serves our people directly.”