The Alliance For Change (AFC) has issued a strong condemnation of the widespread mismanagement and alleged fraud surrounding the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme. The party is demanding a full independent investigation into the controversial dealings with Staffordshire University and the International School Development Consortium (ISDC), who are at the heart of a scandal that has left students misled and taxpayers questioning the integrity of the programme.
The party’s call for accountability follows revelations by Stabroek News, which highlighted significant gaps in transparency and due diligence regarding the GOAL programme. The editorial exposed the fact that students were misled into enrolling in what was presented as a Staffordshire University programme—only for it to later be revealed that no such affiliation existed. Staffordshire University itself has explicitly denied any connection to GOAL, with the institution asserting that the courses associated with the programme were neither authorized nor endorsed by them.
The AFC is calling the situation a “national embarrassment” and a “betrayal of trust” in a programme that was meant to empower Guyanese through access to higher education. “This is not a mere administrative mistake, this is an act of gross negligence and deception,” the AFC stated in its press release.
The party’s concerns have been further compounded by the inadequate response from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who attempted to downplay the gravity of the situation during a recent press conference. Jagdeo’s defense, in which he claimed “nothing is fake” in response to the university’s denial, was swiftly criticized as an attempt to deflect blame.
The AFC highlighted key unanswered questions, including why GOAL chose to engage ISDC, a third-party entity, instead of negotiating directly with Staffordshire University, and what kind of due diligence was conducted before handing over millions of taxpayer dollars to ISDC.
In 2024 alone, the Government injected a staggering $4 billion into the GOAL programme, raising further questions about the handling of public funds. In comparison, the state-owned University of Guyana—Guyana’s only tertiary education institution—received a total of $4.1 billion for the year, a mere $100 million more than what was allocated to the controversial GOAL programme.
The disparity in funding between these two education initiatives has raised concerns about the government’s priorities, especially given the recent scandal involving GOAL.
The AFC is calling for a full disclosure of all financial transactions relating to ISDC’s involvement and wants clarity on how much money was paid to the company and how much may have been lost due to the scandal.
Adding to the controversy, Education Minister Priya Manickchand has remained silent on the issue, despite being the government official responsible for overseeing the education sector. Her failure to address the scandal has only fueled public mistrust and further damaged confidence in the GOAL programme, which was meant to provide opportunities for Guyanese students to earn international qualifications from respected institutions.
The AFC also pointed to the Programme Director of GOAL, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, as a key figure in the controversy. Professor Opadeyi, who is also a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, was ousted by a no-confidence vote in 2015.
Notably, Opadeyi has a history with key political figures, including Irfaan Ali, for whom he supervised the doctoral dissertation. However, that dissertation, which was completed under his supervision, has never been made public, raising further questions about transparency in academic dealings.
The AFC’s demands for immediate action include:
- A full and independent investigation into the agreements between GOAL, ISDC, and other involved institutions, to determine if further fraudulent activities exist.
- A public accounting of all financial transactions with ISDC, revealing the amount paid by the government and the oversight mechanisms in place.
- Clear redress for students affected by the scandal, including pathways to obtain recognized qualifications without incurring additional costs.
- Accountability for those responsible for the mismanagement, with calls for disciplinary or legal action against government officials who failed to conduct proper oversight and due diligence.
The AFC has stressed that the GOAL programme should have been a gateway to better educational opportunities, not a tool for deception. The party insists that the people of Guyana deserve far more than government evasion and dishonesty and that a full investigation is essential for restoring public trust.
