ExxonMobil has launched a US$100 million initiative aimed at strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Guyana. This initiative will be implemented over a 10 year period.
In a statement published on its website, the company said the Guyana STEM Initiative is designed to build the country’s “talent pipeline,” arguing that while energy investments have accelerated economic growth, sustained progress will depend on equipping young people with the skills modern industries demand.
The initiative will rest on three pillars: strengthening STEM teaching, expanding student opportunities, and forging clearer pathways to college and careers.
Under the first pillar, the ExxonMobil Foundation will partner with Guyana’s Ministry of Education, the University of Guyana and the University of Houston to deliver teacher training beginning in September. ExxonMobil said decades of research show teacher preparation is one of the strongest predictors of student success, noting that well-supported math and science teachers can influence thousands of future careers.
The second pillar focuses on expanding access to high-quality STEM resources and hands-on learning. Over the next decade, the programme will introduce coding, design challenges and applied science projects, while bringing global learning platforms such as Khan Academy to students nationwide, including in remote hinterland communities. A network of STEM Centres and satellite facilities is also planned, with the first centre slated to open in Georgetown in 2029.
The third pillar will focus college and career readiness, including pre-college math and science courses, mentoring, tutoring and transition support to help students connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities.
ExxonMobil said the initiative complements Guyana’s national focus on expanding educational opportunity and reflects its belief that the country’s greatest resource is not its offshore oil reserves, but the human capital found in classrooms.
