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FM
Former Member

$10,000 School grant under review; Gov’t says it is not sustainable

July 15, 2015 3:12 pm Category: Business, Local News A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The APNU+AFC government has halted the 10,000 per child “Because we care” school grant which was an initiative under the previous PPP/C administration.

 

This was confirmed by Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, who told a post cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, July 15 that the initiative was badly implemented and that it is “fiscally unsustainable.”

He said that the project is currently under review and that government wants to ensure that the poor and vulnerable should be the main beneficiaries.

“Cabinet has been advised that it is fiscally unsustainable because when one studies development economics, when you give a grant or a cash transfer, it has to be targeted; it must be accompanied or guided by a means test, so that you ensure the most vulnerable in society are the sole or if not the primary beneficiaries, that is the poorest of the poor,” Minister Trotman said.

He further explained that while the cash grant was a good idea, “it was badly implemented.”

Flashback: Parents registering for the cash grant

Flashback: Parents registering for the cash grant

“So to have a grant of $10,000 for every school child without it being focused to those who need it more is not…fiscally sustainable for any economy, particularly ours.”

He however noted that government will continue the school uniform vouchers and seek to enhance it. The ‘Because we care’ initiative was launched in October of 2014 and was slated to benefit 188,406 families of the students of nursery, primary, and secondary schools in the public school system.

It would have resulted in a total of $2B being invested by the then PPP government.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by asj:

$10,000 School grant under review; Gov’t says it is not sustainable

July 15, 2015 3:12 pm Category: Business, Local News A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The APNU+AFC government has halted the 10,000 per child “Because we care” school grant which was an initiative under the previous PPP/C administration.

 

.

He further explained that while the cash grant was a good idea, “it was badly implemented.

.

This has been the story of the PNC and the PPP for some 49 years.  Let's hope this time around, they get it half right.

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by asj:

$10,000 School grant under review; Gov’t says it is not sustainable

July 15, 2015 3:12 pm Category: Business, Local News A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The APNU+AFC government has halted the 10,000 per child “Because we care” school grant which was an initiative under the previous PPP/C administration.

 

.

He further explained that while the cash grant was a good idea, “it was badly implemented.

.

This has been the story of the PNC and the PPP for some 49 years.  Let's hope this time around, they get it half right.

The only story here is the pratings of ignoramus like yourselves presuming to know more than you have ever illustrates about what supposedly the PNC, meaning black people, can do. The give away was silly. It could be used better to further education in helpful ways than handing it to a parent where by it self it has zero capacity to make a difference.

FM
Originally Posted by Stormborn:
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by asj:

$10,000 School grant under review; Gov’t says it is not sustainable

July 15, 2015 3:12 pm Category: Business, Local News A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The APNU+AFC government has halted the 10,000 per child “Because we care” school grant which was an initiative under the previous PPP/C administration.

 

.

He further explained that while the cash grant was a good idea, “it was badly implemented.

.

This has been the story of the PNC and the PPP for some 49 years.  Let's hope this time around, they get it half right.

The only story here is the pratings of ignoramus like yourselves presuming to know more than you have ever illustrates about what supposedly the PNC, meaning black people, can do. The give away was silly. It could be used better to further education in helpful ways than handing it to a parent where by it self it has zero capacity to make a difference.

Now, what's your beef, I said PPP and PNC, not APNU!

FM
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by Stormborn:
Originally Posted by baseman:
Originally Posted by asj:

$10,000 School grant under review; Gov’t says it is not sustainable

July 15, 2015 3:12 pm Category: Business, Local News A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. [Jules Gibson Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The APNU+AFC government has halted the 10,000 per child “Because we care” school grant which was an initiative under the previous PPP/C administration.

 

.

He further explained that while the cash grant was a good idea, “it was badly implemented.

.

This has been the story of the PNC and the PPP for some 49 years.  Let's hope this time around, they get it half right.

The only story here is the pratings of ignoramus like yourselves presuming to know more than you have ever illustrates about what supposedly the PNC, meaning black people, can do. The give away was silly. It could be used better to further education in helpful ways than handing it to a parent where by it self it has zero capacity to make a difference.

Now, what's your beef, I said PPP and PNC, not APNU!

For adding the PNC to the ignorant vote buying scheme of the PPP. Give each of them their due when it is indeed due.

FM

Govt. increases uniform voucher to $2,000

August 11, 2015 | By | Filed Under News 

– has sights on evidence-based interventions to support families

Government has upped the uniform allowance voucher to public school children to $2,000.  The voucher sum formerly amounted to $1,500. The announcement of the increase was made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, when he presented the 2015 National Budget in the National Assembly yesterday. In his presentation he noted that “this will benefit more than 167,000 students at a cost of over $337 million.” The Finance Minister also disclosed yesterday that persons receiving payment for sewing uniforms in remote hinterland locations will now received a 25 percent increase on the amount from $800 to $1,000. “This increases the disposable income of those hired while benefiting 33,000 students,” informed the Minister. However, this $500 addition to the uniform voucher may not find favour with all stakeholders. A letter inked by the Red Thread organization in July had in fact proposed that the voucher be increased to $15,000. The letter even offered a detail breakdown of how that sum could be spent to cater to the schooling needs of children. The uniform voucher is usually afforded to parents of public school children at the end of the school year. This however did not occur this year given the fact that the national budget was not presented and consideration was being given by Government to increase the voucher sum. Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine a few weeks ago informed that his Ministry will soon be issuing public announcements of how, when and where the vouchers will be available. According to him, given the fact that Government has placed a hold on the $10,000 ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, consideration was being given to have money for that programme diverted elsewhere. He noted that the school feeding programme and the uniform voucher programmes could be among those likely to be boosted by funds that would have gone towards the cash grant. “There is a real possibility that we will increase, but I have to see how the money plays out,” the Minister had intimated. According to the Finance Minister yesterday, with regard to inclusive and equitable access, while “we have been able to expand provision of education, and have seen an increase in net enrolment rates, we need to determine how successful we have been in providing and expanding access to education for the most marginalized groups in the country.” As such he noted that Government will seek to ensure that the system does not perpetuate inequalities by differential levels of access to certain groups, based on their geographical location and ability to take advantage of educational opportunities. Moreover, he spoke of plans to adopt an approach that is grounded in systems-based reforms, and evidence-based policy-making, to achieve the education sector’s goals. Minister Jordan, in drawing attention to the cash grant, which was launched under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration, asserted that initiatives to expand access to education will not hinge on reactive and broad-brush approaches. This he mentioned was evident in the hastily-contrived unconditional transfer of funds to families, presumably to defray education costs. In the absence of a well-constructed framework for such cash transfer policies, that includes rigorous monitoring and evaluation, such policies represent no more than political gimmickry – creating unsustainable expectations, while entrenching a dependency mentality. However, the Finance Minister added that “this administration will focus on evidence-based interventions that aim to support families in meeting the monetary and non-monetary challenges of sending their children to school.” As a start to this approach, he said that the school uniform programme will be enhanced and the school feeding programme will be expanded with an emphasis on the hinterland locations. “We will focus more on whether or not students attend school regularly, whether they complete schooling, and whether they successfully transition into higher levels of education or into the workplace,” added the Finance Minister.

Mitwah

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