By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – With the government shelving the $10,000 cash grant programme, it is likely that there will be an increase in the amount of monies that parents receive in the form of a voucher to purchase uniforms and other necessities for school.
The distribution of school uniform vouchers would usually begin in late June/early July; however the programme is yet to start under the new APNU+AFC administration.
When questioned by reporters, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine stated that the Permanent Secretary is overlooking the programme and it is expected to commence soon.
“The uniform voucher programme is intact and proceeding in the way it normally proceeds…the uniform project is intact,” the Education Minister reassured.
When asked about an increase, he noted that it is possible contending that the increase will come from the scrapped cash grant programme.
“I am hoping now that we have taken the ten thousand hand out…redeployed them to the school feeding programme, helping out with the uniform vouchers and so on there is a real possibility that the money will increase,” the Minister indicated
In 2013, Government expended over $1 billion on the National School Feeding Programme to the benefit of over 65,000 children, while $208 million was spent on the Uniform Programme, benefitting over 139,000 children.
A much better initiative than just handing out money to parents to enhance their smoking, drinking etc habits. We can now be encouraged by the fact that the money would be spent on acquiring school supplies only.