A second grade student at Arapaima Primary School, Lethem, Region 9, Guyana. Credit: GPE/Kelley Lynch

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$46,124,630

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Education sector plan

Objectives: Improving governance and accountability, improving performance at all levels, improving the efficiency of the education system, reducing inequities in education and contributing to lifelong learning and employability.

Other key documents

Coordinating agency: UNICEF

GPE Team lead: Talia Miranda

Transforming education in Guyana

The Government of Guyana has expressed a strong commitment to improving education systems, noting the importance of education in allowing Guyanese society to adapt to changing needs and demands. In 2022 President Irfaan Ali committed to increasing education spending to 6% of Guyana’s GDP and 20% of the national budget.

Investment in the education sector is vital to address a series of challenges that the country currently faces. Although primary and secondary education is free, other costs associated with attending school currently contribute to poor student retention rates, with socio-economically disadvantaged and male students particularly vulnerable to dropping out.

Attainment levels within the country also remain low, with less than 50% of students passing their English and Mathematics National Grade Two Assessment, and an even lower pass rate in Grade Four Assessments.

In order to tackle these challenges within the education sector, the Ministry of Education’s Education Sector Plan 2021-2025 sets out a vision to provide opportunities for quality education for all. To achieve this, 5 strategic goals are outlined:

  • Improving governance and accountability
  • Improving performance at all levels
  • Improving the efficiency of the Education System
  • Reducing inequities in Education
  • Contributing to lifelong learning and employability

The ESP also stresses the importance of monitoring and evaluation, noting its importance for accountability and transparency, as well as ensuring that policies and programming are data-driven.

In addition to the ESP, Guyana has also developed a Partnership Compact with GPE. The compact is designed to support the continued transformation of the Guyanese education system.

Noting that district and school leaders currently lack clear guidance, training, and professional development opportunities, the compact sets out to address these issues. The key priority of the Partnership Compact is therefore:

‘Strengthening Instructional Leadership at District and School levels: Promote equitable learning by strengthening culturally responsive and effective instructional leadership and improved accountability at the district and school levels.’

Result story

Guyana: Closing the learning gap for the most vulnerable students

  • The quality and equity of early childhood education (ECE) were the most critical issues in need of attention in the hinterland and remote riverine areas of Guyana where education services were below national standards.
  • In these areas, a high percentage of teachers were untrained, operated with inadequate teaching materials, and served children of parents with low levels of adult literacy.
  • With GPE’s support, the government of Guyana was able to close the learning gap for the youngest most vulnerable children living in remote regions of the country. Now the most marginalized students can learn at the same rate as their more privileged peers.

Grants

(data as of September 01, 2023)

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2023 - 2024

    Allocation: US$200,000

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: IDB

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2022 - 2023

    Allocation: US$156,500

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: UNESCO

  • Type: Program implementation and multiplier

    Years: 2021 - 2024

    Allocation: US$7,000,000

    Utilization: US$4,426,943

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: COVID-19

    Years: 2020 - 2022

    Allocation: US$3,500,000

    Utilization: US$3,057,525

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2020 - 2022

    Allocation: US$200,000

    Utilization: US$190,974

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2015 - 2018

    Allocation: US$1,698,273

    Utilization: US$1,698,273

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Sector Plan Development

    Years: 2013 - 2015

    Allocation: US$250,000

    Utilization: US$227,695

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2013 - 2015

    Allocation: US$200,000

    Utilization: US$193,467

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2004 - 2012

    Allocation: US$32,919,857

    Utilization: US$32,919,857

    Grant agent: WB

Knowledge and innovation

Latest blogs and news

July 25, 2022
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