“Because We Care” cash grant to grow significantly in PPP’s next term – Jagdeo

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is looking to significantly increase the “Because We Care” cash grant in its next term in office as part of its wider agenda to ease the financial burden on parents and expand access to education across the country.
This is according to Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during community meeting over the weekend at Pomona Sports Ground, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

There, the VP reaffirmed the PPP/C’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Guyana is supported through a strong and inclusive education system.
Jagdeo made it clear that the Government’s plans for the education sector are far from complete. He told the gathering that the “Because We Care” grant — which currently stands at $50,000 per child annually — will be increased in the next term.
“In the next term in office, this will grow significantly too, for the children. So every year they’ll get an allocation from the Government,” the VP announced.
He explained that this expansion forms part of a broader plan to fully remove the costs associated with educating children in Guyana — from nursery right through to university.
Jagdeo pointed to the many achievements already made in the sector. Upon returning to office in 2020, the PPP/C restored the “Because We Care” cash grant, which had been scrapped by the previous administration. The grant was not only reinstated but gradually increased to $50,000 per child per year and expanded to include private school students.
Over 200,000 children now benefit from this support annually.
“We promised you to return your $10,000 grant and increase it to $50,000 per child per year. And we’ve fulfilled that promise. In this year’s budget, it’s $50,000 per child …We did not only keep it for children going to public schools, but the 30,000 children going to private schools also benefit now from this grant. There were 170,000 who go to public schools and 30,000 who go to private schools.” Dr Jagdeo stated.
The VP underscored that this is only the beginning of what is envisioned. In the coming years, the Government plans to build a system in which parents no longer have to worry about how to afford their children’s education.
As part of this initiative, the PPP/C has already fulfilled several key promises, including the provision of free tertiary education and the payment of examination fees for up to eight subjects at both the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) levels for all secondary school students.
“We promised to make university education free. This year, we have done so. UG (University of Guyana) tuition is no longer. We also promised 20,000 scholarships. We already did over 30,000. Go get it!” he urged.
In addition, the administration has introduced a $100,000 grant for every newborn, signalling its intention to support children from the very beginning of life.
“When you have a child, even now, we’ve given a grant of $100,000 for newborns. But when you get a child, you don’t have to worry about your education any longer, because from nursery all the way to university, the Government will take care of the costs associated with this,” he added.
The VP further noted that thousands of Guyanese have been trained in technical and vocational areas through Government-funded initiatives, demonstrating the PPP/C’s commitment to building a highly skilled and educated workforce.
Jagdeo stressed that the party’s focus on education is not just about increasing numbers but about creating long-term opportunities and ensuring that every child in Guyana has a chance to succeed, regardless of their background.