No “Because We Care” cash grant for students withholding loaned textbooks
Only parents and guardians who returned textbooks loaned to students for the school year by the Education Ministry will be eligible for the “Because We Care” cash grant, according to a memorandum released by the Ministry.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
“Textbooks loaned to students would have to be returned or replaced before parents can access the cash grant. Parents signed a contract to this effect when they collected the textbooks. My friends, the textbooks have helped tremendously in your children’s education. We need them for the next class,” Education Minister Priya Manickchand posted to social media.
The memorandum addressed to Regional Education Officers from across all ten administrative regions, informed that all textbooks that were loaned to students must be returned on or before July 7 for students to receive the cast grant.
The memorandum advised parents and guardians that if the textbooks granted to their child and/or children become lost or destroyed, they will be given the option of having the book(s) replaced. If the book cannot be replaced, a $5000 fee will be charged to the parent/guardian.
Regional Education Officers were advised to submit a list of names of students per school and level who have failed to return or pay for textbooks lost or destroyed to the Departments of Education on or before July 17.
The “Because We Care” cash grant initiative was first introduced in 2014 and saw each public-school child benefitting from $10,000. However, the initiative came to a halt by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government but was reinstated in 2020 after the PPP went back into office.
In addition to resurrecting the programme, the PPP/C increased the value of the cash grant to $15,000. This was alongside the $4000 uniform grant, meaning every child received a total of $19,000.
This year, the “Because We Care” cash grant will be increased to $25,000 while the uniform grant will jump to $5000, resulting in each child getting $30,000. (G2)
