GOAL scholarship awardees obligated to perform community service - Parag

Recipients of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships will be obligated to provide volunteer services based on the length of their studies, according to Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag.

She made this disclosure in her written response to questions asked by APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley concerning the obligations of recipients of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme.

The responses to the questions were circulated during last Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Sarabo-Halley, the immediate past Minister of Public Service, asked that the Minister state whether recipients of the GOAL scholarships will be contractually obligated to the Government of Guyana.

Parag, in response, related that based on new skills learnt by the recipients of the scholarships, they will be contractually obligated to provide community service before completing the programme of study. She further said that the duration of the community service is relative to the length of their studies.

Parag detailed that six months of study will require two weeks of community service, one year of study will require four weeks of community service, two years of study will require six weeks of community service, and three years of study will require eight weeks of community service.

It was noted that beneficiaries of the programme would not be required to join the public service upon completing their studies as the initiative is aimed at National Educational Development rather than training for the public sector solely.

The non-paying community service may be performed with registered private sector organizations, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, National Government Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations, CommunityBased

Organizations and Approved Educational Institutions.

Sarabo-Halley also asked that the Minister also provide the National Assembly with a document which clearly outlines how programmes being offered for scholarships were decided on.

In her response, Parag explained to the house that the programmes were chosen by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Public Service, after consultations were held with several Government Ministries, Agencies and the general public, all prior to the 2020 elections. Then, negotiations were held with five accredited and recognized Universities around the word. She listed the Indira Gandhi Open University, the Jain University, the University of Applied Sciences, the University of Southern Caribbean and the University of the West Indies Open Campus.

The Opposition Member of Parliament also asked that the Minister indicate the process which will be used to ensure that there is equity and equality in the awarding of the scholarships

Parag said that the process will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with fairness. She related that several critical factors will be considered based on the selected programme and based on data extracted from the applicant’s application forms. Also, special attention will be placed on regional balance so as to ensure citizens in the hinterland and rural communities are well served.

Finally, Sarabo-Halley asked for an explanation of the process and office holders who will determine who the recipients of the scholarships will be. According to Parag, the recipients will be selected by a selection panel consisting of four persons headed by the Director of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning. The awardees will be selected based on the criteria aforementioned.