Education Ministry extends date to cash in school uniform vouchers

A decision has been taken by the Education Ministry to extend the expiry date for the school uniform and supplies vouchers, providing an extra window of time for parents to benefit if they have not done so.
This was announced by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand during a video message. She noted that many parents would not have had the chance to use the vouchers – which are part of Government’s efforts to increase the disposable income in households.
“We have become aware at the Ministry of Education that some parents, for various reasons, didn’t get a chance to cash their uniform voucher within the time that we gave. We know how much this means to parents so we would like very much for parents to have the benefit that the Government intended,” Manickchand posited.
Now, parents have until January 9 to use their vouchers. Store owners have until January 15 to redeem vouchers that have been used at their establishment and this can be done at the Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown office.
“We’ve decided as a Government to extend the period that parents would have to shop and store owners would have to redeem their vouchers. Parents now have until the 9th of January to go to stores and shop with those vouchers…We’re very happy to be able to extend this time.”
After assuming office in August, the new PPP/C Administration doubled the allowance for school uniform vouchers. President Ali had promised that a slew of measures would be implemented following the presentation and passage of the emergency budget for the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year.
At the launch, it was noted that more than 160,000 school children across the country will receive a $4000 uniform and school supplies voucher to assist with the purchasing of school supplies and uniforms. The PPP/C Government increased the voucher from $2000 to $4000, representing a 100 per cent increase.
The vouchers can be redeemed at stores across the country. They cannot be redeemed for cash but must purchase what they are intended for. Vouchers are usually uplifted at schools on dates and times provided.
In 2014, Minister Manickchand had launched the “Because We Care” project which issued vouchers 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.
The $15,000 per child school voucher will be given to parents of public school children this year. After reintroducing the grant, it was raised from $10,000 to $15,000.
In 2015 when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government took office, they scrapped the project and displaced thousands of students and parents.