The University of Guyana is to be allocated $14.5 Billion in this year’s budget, which is $6.6 Billion less than it requested, and just over $1 Billion more than it got in 2025.
During his National Budget presentation, Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh explained that the subvention will support the University’s expanded operations, including new initiatives that will expand access to medicine and engineering programmes in Regions 2, 3, and 6.
“In recognition of the high demand for access to particular UG programmes, especially engineering and the medical sciences, and in keeping with our rapidly growing need for skilled personnel in these areas, we will be expanding access to medicine and engineering programmes in Regions 2, 3 and 6 at a cost of $1 billion in 2026. Already 130 students have registered for the engineering programmes. In order to finance its ongoing and expanded operations, including this new initiative, UG has been allocated $14.5 Billion in 2026,” Minister Singh explained.
However, the $14.5 Billion represents a minor increase when compared to the $13.3B the University received in 2025.
In light of the significant increase in the number of applications to pursue higher education at the institution due to the move by Government to abolish tuition fees, the University’s Administration had reportedly proposed an annual subvention of $21.2 Billion.
The Government has also announced that it has written off over $3 Billion in student loans for more than 4,000 persons. It intends to continue the write-off programme in 2026.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) has been allocated the sum of $5.8 Billion for 2026.
Minister Singh reported that the Government awarded 10,805 scholarships through GOAL in 2025 and will continue the programme by offering an unlimited number of scholarships to all eligible Guyanese.
Overall, $183.6 Billion has been budgeted for the Education Sector, a slight increase when compared to the sum of $183.5 Billion that was allocated in 2025.
Of that number, $24.3 Billion has been earmarked for the construction of more than 40 schools.
“Mr. Speaker, over the last five years, we commenced the construction of more than 100 new schools across the nursery, primary and secondary levels, and maintenance and rehabilitation of schools countrywide. To this end, in 2025 alone, the sum of $36.3 billion was expended. In 2026, a total of $24.3 billion is earmarked for the completion of more than 40 schools, including Falls Top and Kanapang nursery schools, Cracrana and Diamond No. 2 primary schools, as well as Karaudarnau and Kwebanna secondary schools, alongside the continuous rehabilitation and maintenance of existing schools. Works will also advance on student dormitories at Jawalla, North West, Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa and Waramadong,” the Finance Minister reported.
Additionally, $2.3 Billion has been budgeted to replenish textbooks, workbooks and reading materials across all levels, $3.1 Billion for the school grant initiative, and $176.1 Million to support the operations of the Guyana Digital School, and supporting initiatives.
The Government has also budgeted $7B for the National School Feeding Programme.
Funds have also been set aside to cover the cost for up to eight subjects for every student pursuing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in public and private schools. In 2025, over 13,300 students who had already paid to sit the 2025 examinations were reimbursed at a cost of $290.7 million.
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