Gov’t. kicks off $10,000 education grant in Region Seven

Oct 13, 2014 News

Jacqueline Thomas, a resident of Bartica and the guardian of a secondary school student has hailed the Government of Guyana’s much anticipated initiative, the $10,000 grant, giving kudos to the government for implementing such a project.
“This is a very good initiative…it is important that students stay in school, so I welcome this, and I must say kudos to the Government for this,” Thomas said.
Sharon Nelson, a mother of two school age children said, “I’m very proud and I know that it will help a lot of parents. I hope lots of parents will send their children more to school… this is a great step the government is taking … I want to thank the entire government.”
Diana Fredericks, a mother of two also expressed her gratitude to the Administration for this assistance. She also spoke in favour of a system to ensure that children remain in school; noting that there are some delinquent parents who show no interest in sending their children to school.
The initiative was launched at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, Region Seven where scores of parents and children gathered to receive their grants as the disbursement process officially commenced in the presence of President Donald Ramotar, and Ministers Robeson Benn, Priya Manickchand, Juan Edghill, and Dr. Jennifer Westford, as well as Cabinet Member Odinga Lumumba.
President Ramotar said that the $10,000 per child ‘Because We Care’ grant is just another demonstration of his Government’s and Party’s philosophical belief that no investment is more important than that made in people. This grant is one of the 2014 budget measures for which a total of $2B was made available by the Government of Guyana.

Head of State, Donald Ramotar looking over the distribution process at the Bartica Community Centre Ground.

The Head of State explained that while Guyana’s natural resources are and will continue to make important contributions to national development, it is the human capital that is a country’s most significant resource.
“From the inception we have been investing in our people. In 1992 only eight percent of our budget went to the social sector. Today when we have a far bigger budget we have more than 30 percent going to the social sector and of that education gets the lion share,” President Ramotar said.
The Head of State said that a sound primary and secondary education is the kind of foundation that Guyana’s children requires to go on becoming productive citizens, and his Administration is committed to providing it for children on the coast, as well as the hinterland.
However, while there will be no dearth of investments in the education sector, the President called on parents to match the efforts of the Government by assisting to lift the moral standard of society and eradicating many social ills that plague particularly the youths.
“Too many of our girls are getting pregnant… put self development first…education is important not only in itself, but it underpins every sector of the country,” the President said.
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand noted that all of the social interventions that have been initiated by the Government over the years have resulted in marked reduction in poverty.
Minister Manickchand explained that in this inaugural roll-out of the programme, every child in the public school system would be qualified. However, next year, a criterion will be set whereby; students’ attendance rate must be of a certain level in order to be deemed eligible for this grant.
Meanwhile, Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford in her brief remarks said the education grant programme is just another effort of the Government to ensure that the vulnerable population in society has a level playing field particularly as it relates to something as vital as education access.
She called on recipients to ensure that the grant is used meaningfully, and for the purpose for which it was given.
Over the past few months, the Education Ministry had embarked on a series of consultations to find out the best way to disburse the funds. At today’s exercise, parents had to produce their ID cards before uplifting their vouchers which can be encashed at any Western Union outlet.
The $10,000 per child grant initiative is expected to benefit 188,406 families of the students of public nursery, primary, and secondary schools in the public school system. (GINA)

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