$15,000 school cash grant, increased uniform allowance approved by Govt

…$200M for expansion of Guyana Learning Channel
…corporate tax on private education removed

The Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will be reintroducing the school children cash grant as well as doubling the allowance for school uniform vouchers from January 2021.
This was announced by President Ali at a press conference on Monday where he announced a slew of measures to be implemented following the presentation and passage of the emergency budget for the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year. The budget will be presented on Wednesday.
The “Because We Care” project was launched back in 2014 by then Education Minister Priya Manickchand and was issued to parents for each child in the public school system. It was implemented with the aim of providing support to parents with school-age children and increasing their disposable income, with a view to raising enrolment and attendance rates.
However, after taking office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government scrapped the project and displaced thousands of students and parents.

Doubling allowance
At the press conference, the President said that not only would the grant be restored and increased to $15,000 but also, his Administration would be doubling the allowance for uniforms. This means that the uniform voucher allowance will be $4000 per child in the public school system.
“This, of course, will bring tremendous help to families, to parents and to children by which time they will hopefully be returning to school under the improved situation we have now as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, we would double the uniform voucher allowance to $4000 per child,” President Ali said.
Just last month, days after taking office, Minister Manickchand said the grants are expected to provide relief for approximately 187,000 students in the system and are, therefore, expected to channel a $1.87 billion allocation. She also had explained that consideration is also being given to students in the private education system.

Removal of corporate tax
The President said that the measures are aimed at ensuring that every child can access education as well as equipping the education sector to become potential export earners for Guyana. He noted that in order to achieve that, mechanisms ought to be put in place so as to encourage investment into the sector.
On that note, he also announced that his Government would completely eradicate the corporate tax on private education in an effort to reduce the cost. He hopes, with the removal of the corporate tax, the cost of education at private institutions can be addressed so as to benefit all.
Additionally, as part of the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential services, the President noted that his Government will be removing VAT on cellular phones since it is now an essential device that works in many ways.
“On the purchase of cellphones which is becoming an integral tool even for children, for communities, for learning purposes, we are going to remove VAT on cell phones,” he announced.

Digitalising learning channel
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to rethink the ways of delivering services and among those establishments that had to rethink their strategies were schools. Most schools have moved online but in Guyana, access to the internet and internet-enabled devices are limited for many.
This has caused the readjustment of the purpose of the Guyana Learning Channel. The channel is now better equipped to impart knowledge to students who are at home.
To further expand, the President announced that $200 million has been set aside to support the expansion efforts.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo noted that spending the $200 million would see better ways of connecting with the students. He also noted that they are also thinking of the students in the hinterland who may not have access to a television.
“We are working out an initiative where the hinterland we can put in TVs so that they can tune in to the channel and there’s five channels so that we can revolutionise the delivery of education,” he said.
The learning channel was launched on April 1, 2011. (G2)