Cash grant for students in private schools being considered – Manickchand

…significant number of students transferring to public system

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday disclosed that discussions are still in the pipeline on whether the “Because We Care” cash grant initiative will be open to private school students.

During a recent press briefing, Manickchand agreed that some parents are facing difficulties in sending their children to private institutions, and Government is not opposed to providing the grant which is meant specifically to those attending public school.
It was noted that many parents have asked to benefit from the initiative and this possibility is not “off the table”.
“Since the last cash grant in 2014, parents said to us that they believe that they’re entitled to benefit. I don’t disagree with them. I know many parents are really trying hard to make them what we would want to see them be – productive adults. They’re making a lot of sacrifices to send their kids to school so we are of the view that once you’re going to private school, you’re rich. That’s not our philosophy. Of course, we are also limited sometimes by budgetary constraints. It’s not off the table. It’s still something we’re looking at,” Manickchand said.
She went on to say that such a decision cannot be made solely by her, but will be taken by Government after examining the availability of resources.
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.
Last week, the new PPP/C Administration announced that in keeping with their campaign manifesto, the grant would be reintroduced. In fact, it was raised from $10,000 to $15,000.
The Administration will be doubling the allowance for uniforms, meaning that the uniform voucher allowance will be $4000 per child in the public system.
Minister Manickchand had 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.
While looking at the education sector, the Minister highlighted that the public system has seen an increase of students, who left private institutions. She said this trend is linked to unaffordability, coupled with situations like the five-month-long elections impasse.
“We have seen a record number, and not only during the pandemic, of students in private schools who want to come back. Just anecdotally, I know of a lot of students whose parents can no longer afford it. That’s what happens when you have very harsh economic conditions that are imposed by external factors, such as extremely long waits for elections results. People have lost income, they’ve lost jobs,” Manickchand expressed.