Govt kicks off 2nd phase of “Because We Care” cash grant countrywide

– grants for Grades 11&12 students set to roll out soon

In a continued effort to ensure everyone eligible receives the “Because We Care” cash grant, the government rolled out the second phase of the initiative countrywide on Friday.
According to the Education Ministry’s Public Relations Office (PRO), Anara Khan, this phase serves as an opportunity for individuals who could not collect their cash grants during the first round.
Khan added, “It’s kind of like a mop-up exercise for those who did not get a chance to collect their grant during the first distribution. Whether it was due to being out of the country, time off from work, or any other reason, today is the day where, in every single region, there is a designated center where parents can go to collect the grant for their child.”
She also announced that after this phase is completed, they will release information on the total number of recipients who received cash grants for the 2024 period.
Furthermore, it was clarified that this second phase should not be confused with the upcoming distribution of cash grants for Grade 11 and 12 students, which will occur on a different date.

“This phase is not part of the distribution for Grade 11 and 12 students. Those grants will be distributed separately after the CXC results are released. CAPE students will need to be registered in September to be eligible. The ‘Because We Care’ cash grant initiative for Grade 11 and 12 students is completely separate from this current phase.”
Khan further added, “Grade 11 and 12 students will be collecting their grants in October after they have registered at their sixth-form schools for CAPE. We want to ensure that only those pursuing CAPE receive the grant, as not every student will be doing so. Therefore, the distribution for them will take place in October after registration.”
This initiative continues to provide crucial financial support to families, ensuring that all eligible students receive the necessary funds to aid in their education.
The “Because We Care” project started in 2014 under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government and saw parents receiving cash grants of $10,000 per child in the public school system.

However, when the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) assumed office in 2015, the party discontinued the grant. When the PPP/C returned to the Government in 2020, they upheld their promise to restore the grant and increase it.
As a result, the grant was increased from $15,000 to $25,000 in 2022 and from $25,000 to $35,000 in 2023 to $45,000 per child in 2024.
The “Because We Care” cash grant and uniform voucher are part of welfare measures being implemented by the government to put more disposable income into the hands of parents and increase school attendance of learners, particularly those disadvantaged because their parents could not always afford the necessities.