Scores of Lindeners last week cashed in on the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and the School Uniform and Supplies Grant initiative with some 11,600 are students are slated to benefit.
The initiative was launched in Linden at the Wismar Christianburg Secondary School last Thursday by the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand who stated that over $200 Million will be distributed in Region 10 among nursery, primary and secondary school students in the public school system.
Parents received $15,000 Because We Care cash grant and $4000 School Uniform and Supplies Grant, a total of $19,000 for each child they have in the public school system.
Manickchand noted that the government will not dictate what parents should spend the $19,000 on but it should be used in any way that will be of benefit to the children.
“You can use this in any way that is in service to your children and once that happens you would have happier children in the class rooms, more receptive to the education that we are trying to deliver,” Manickchand noted.
She added that the $19,000 will increase with time until it reaches $50,000 per child.
For 2021, the Government will be disbursing $3.2 billion on the ‘Because We Care’ and School Uniform and Supplies cash grants for 172,000 public school students across Guyana.
The government is also exploring the possibility of extending the initiative to private school students.
Mother of five, Desna Joseph told Village Voice News that four of her children benefited from the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant. The single mother praised the initiative and hopes for its continuation.
“I think it is a good initiative because it will help out a good way, especially when you are a single parent like me, it will help me out a lot. I think it is something that should continue all the time, I do not think it should end,” Joseph related.
Meanwhile, Conrad Adams who collected grants for two of his children noted that the initiative is timely and has made many parents happy.
“The cash grant is beneficial not just to myself and my children but also other parents who are here. We are happy to know that we can receive something that can help us out during this period of time that we are facing,” Adams noted.
