The largest online learning initiative, the Guyana Digital School was officially launched Friday, marking a historical and major step in building a modern and digitally ready society.
The platform has been live for several months and signals a transformational moment for education not just in Guyana but across the Caribbean.
The launch was co-hosted with an AI assistant and featured live demonstrations and highlighted the school’s capabilities as a fully online secondary institution, with plans to expand to other grade levels. The Guyana Digital School is designed for anyone, of any age, to learn anytime and anywhere, and is already accessible to several CARICOM countries, including Belize, The Bahamas and Barbados. Schools from the hinterland also joined the launch virtually.
The initiative is supported by Jain University, whose Chancellor, Dr. Chenraj Roychand, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment as the school’s technology and academic partner. He described the project as a global model in the making and one that reflects a long-term commitment to supporting Guyana’s evolution into a modern and inclusive digital nation.
Minister of Education Sonia Parag, in her remarks, said the launch represents a defining moment for the education sector.
“From promise to delivery, this demonstrates that when we say education must meet every child, we mean now,” she stated.
Minister Parag noted that 20,368 students from Grades 10 and 11 have already registered. The school blends technology, interactive online classes led by trained educators, a wide digital library and support powered by artificial intelligence tools.
Importantlt, Parag emphasised that the Guyana Digital School is not intended to replace traditional classrooms.
“This is not an abandonment of traditional schooling, it is the strengthening of it,” Parag said, explaining that the platform will guard against vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure no child is left behind.
The minister highlighted that the school caters to different learning styles such as visual, practical or self-paced and is also designed to spark curiosity through interactive and engaging content.
The school, a brianchild of President Dr. Irfaan Ali described the launch as an emotional and historic milestone not just for Guyana, but for regional integration.
“For many of the children here, you now have the future that generations before you only dreamt of.
“Today, every single Guyanese has an opportunity that many before never had,” the head of state said.
The President noted that the digital school is not only an educational achievement but a powerful tool for removing long-standing barriers that once separated communities and limited access.
“This is a landmark moment in our nation’s history toward educational development,” he said.
He described the platform as part of a bold national and economic transformation strategy rooted in the reality that the world is changing faster than ever before.
President Ali stressed that developing nations have long faced a digital divide, with high-income countries possessing the infrastructure necessary to progress. Guyana’s investment in digital education and national digital infrastructure, he said, is essential to ensure citizens are drivers and not passengers of the future.
While digital education will not replace classrooms or teachers, it is a powerful tool for equality, especially in a region susceptible to natural disasters. The online system ensures learning continuity and provides alternative pathways for adult learners and out-of-school youth.
The Digital School’s library will include all CXC-required textbooks, ensuring equitable access to essential learning resources.
“This school is not a response to the present, it is an investment in the future,” President Ali said.
With strong regional support, cutting-edge technology and thousands of learners already enrolled, the Guyana Digital School stands poised to become a model for digital transformation in education both in Guyana and across the Caribbean.
The post Historic! Guyana Digital School launched, marking largest online learning initiative appeared first on News Room Guyana.
