In a bold education-focused campaign pledge, Alliance For Change (AFC) candidate Devin Sears has promised sweeping measures to ease the financial burden on school children and parents, outlining a comprehensive vision for equitable access to education if the party secures victory at the September 1 General and Regional Elections.
At a recent campaign stop, Sears committed to providing $75,000 every school term for every student, stating, “Every student, every term will be getting $75,000. We believe that this money will go to good use in terms of buying material supplies. Textbooks will be free.” He emphasized that this entitlement would apply to all students — both public and private — and that the funds could also be used to establish early savings accounts for children.
In a country flush with natural resource wealth, Sears argued that there was “no excuse” for children to be denied access to school or educational resources because of poverty. “The country has enough wealth that we could give support where it’s needed,” he said, underscoring the AFC’s commitment to inclusive development.
The AFC also pledged to expand the school uniform programme, vowing to provide free uniforms every year to all students. “Automatically that school uniform voucher will increase and improve. That is what the Alliance For Change will do,” Sears declared.
Transportation was another major pillar of the AFC proposal. Drawing inspiration from the past A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government’s 5Bs programme—bus, boat, bicycle, breakfast, and books—Sears vowed to go even further: “The AFC is saying that it would provide free transportation for every student, whether it is by boat, road, or any other means. We will ensure that no parent has to pay for their child to get to school.”
He further pledged a national consultation with parents to determine the best way to implement school-based transportation solutions, including the possibility of assigning dedicated buses and boats to each school, particularly in the hinterland and riverine regions where children face significant commuting challenges.
On the issue of student nutrition, Sears sharply criticised the school feeding programme under the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, calling it “a hustle” and “insufficient”. “The little snack they give the students is not a balanced meal,” he noted.
The AFC plan, Sears said, would include nutritionally balanced meals—with vegetables, meat for protein, milk, and juice—and the construction of school cafeterias capable of serving both breakfast and lunch. “There must never be an excuse that any child doesn’t have breakfast or lunch,” Sears emphasised.
His remarks are particularly significant given recent findings by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which revealed that 20% of children in Guyana suffer from “severe food poverty”—meaning their families cannot afford more than two food groups per day. Another 40% of children are affected by “moderate food poverty,” receiving only half of the required daily nutrition.
Sears stressed that the AFC would collaborate with Parent-Teacher Associations, the Department of Education, and the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) underscoring the party’s commitment to inclusive governance.
With a clear message that no child should be left behind, the AFC is positioning its education policy as a cornerstone of its campaign — and drawing sharp contrasts with the PPP government’s record. As the cost of living continues to rise, and with mounting evidence of deepening child poverty, Sears’s message appears designed to resonate with a struggling electorate looking for meaningful relief and long-term change.
