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FM
Former Member
Cash grants for students to resume


 
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

THOUGH the logistics are still to be worked out, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), very much plans to honor its promise for the return of the $10,000 per child cash grant for children in public schools while contemplation is ongoing to have the program extended to private school children as well.

This is according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, who, last Tuesday, noted that the broke state in which the previous administration has left the national treasury, as well as the current social gathering restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the challenges affecting the moving forward of the project.
Nonetheless, citizens can be reassured that in time the project will resume.

“That is a commitment we made as a political party on the campaign trail. The PPP/C has always honored its commitment and it’s one we intend to honor. How we do that is [still being worked out]. We are in a very tight spot economically. We are talking at the cabinet-level about submissions for the budget,” the minister explained.
With the new government only recently having been installed following a long five-month elections process, the country has been without a national budget thus far, and the new government is now in the process of creating one.

However, with approximately 187,000 students in the system, the program will require a $1.87 billion cash injection, and the national purse may not be able to handle the demand just yet.

Aside from the issue of working out the finances, Manickchand highlighted that finding an appropriate means of distribution, in light of the COVID-19 situation, would also provide challenges. Like many countries, Guyana currently has in effect social gathering restrictions as part of the measures to curb the spread of the virus.

“[It] requires a distribution to people that sometimes could require a gathering or several gatherings and that is something we are trying to shut down right now. We [would] have to consult with health unless we have means of getting the cash grant to parents without them in anyway gathering. So those are some of the issues we have to examine,” she noted.
Called the “Because We Care” project, in 2014, the PPPC initiated the program which issued to parents cash grants of $10,000 per child in the public school system. The program was implemented with the aim of providing support to parents with school-age children and increase their disposable income, with a view to raising enrollment and attendance rates.
When the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) took over the government in 2015, the party discontinued the grant. During the lead up to the March 2 elections, the PPP/C had promised to reinstate the program.

During its rollout, however, some parents with children in private schools had lobbied that if continued, the program should extend to children in private schools. Manickchand last Tuesday agreed that a child being in a private school is not necessarily an indication that the parents are not in need of financial aid, and so thought will be given to those children to also be recipients when the project re-commences.

“I see every student whether private or public as a student that we have to have as our primal concern their interest and so it is not off the cards, it is something that was raised even the last time. Like I said we are very new so some of these things are still being ironed out. These things are always budgetary consideration and we have a heavily-taxed and by that, I mean broke country,” she said.

https://guyanachronicle.com/20...LhEYEwoWkQ-57JNX_e-Y

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The lady is just brilliant. The PPP will always invest in people. In order to fulfill all the election promises they made, it will require over 10,000  more government employees. Better days are coming.

R
@Django posted:

They removed the buses that was providing free transportation ,do the math for cost of transportation. You will find which is better.

Django, you never seem to find anything that is good with the PPP. You are the first one to criticize anything good they do. In addition, you never miss a chance to bash them mercilessly. On the contrary, you, without hesitation, are the first one to push any minute good deed the PNC does and goes to the extreme to defend their lawlessness and thefts. I do not and cannot see you as an independent.

FM
@Former Member posted:

Django, you never seem to find anything that is good with the PPP. You are the first one to criticize anything good they do. In addition, you never miss a chance to bash them mercilessly.

On the contrary, you, without hesitation, are the first one to push any minute good deed the PNC does and goes to the extreme to defend their lawlessness and thefts.

I do not and cannot see you as an independent.

They are backwards ,thinking they are the sharpest tool in the shed.

Do the math and tell if the parents gain by getting $10,000. Nurses was also benefiting from the free transportation .

Where do i defend the Coalition Government ?

Django
Last edited by Django

I believe transportation has to be a part of school programs. But I don't think it was mention here. Let wait and see what they will do about it. 

Django, where do you get the info that the transportation is eliminated? Link, please. Ty.

FM
@Former Member posted:

I believe transportation has to be a part of school programs. But I don't think it was mention here. Let wait and see what they will do about it. 

Django, where do you get the info that the transportation is eliminated? Link, please. Ty.

Saw it on FB the buses was removed ,wondering if they will removed the boats given to hinterland students.

Four buses was in Region 6 ,well David Granger name is on the buses ,maybe that's why the were removed.

Django
Last edited by Django

Under President’s ‘five B’s’ initiative… Fourth bus for schoolchildren added to fleet at Region Six

Children in practically every region continue to benefit from the five B’s initiative that started with H.E President David Granger in 2015.
With three buses already operating in Region Six, another has been added to the fleet last week. The bus was donated by businessman Peter Lewis to the Fyrish Primary School.
At the handing over ceremony, attended by the Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, the President, students and teachers of the school, residents and regional officials, much emphasis was placed on the importance of education.
President Granger reiterated that what is being done is not a political gimmick, but to ensure that children can attend school. He stated that the aim is not just to provide a bus but also to ensure that children have equal access to education.
“That is the root of equality”, he said.
The programmeme, which began in the riverine areas, was an initiative to ensure that every child can go to school and receive the best opportunities.
“We want Guyanese to enjoy this environment, enjoy the fruits of this country. We don’t want poverty, we don’t want inequality, we don’t want deprivation. We want Guyanese to feel proud. Education is the gateway, if you can’t read, write, count or spell, how will you get employment?” he asked.
It is his belief that if anyone is to play a meaningful role in society, they must be educated. “That is why there is so much emphasis on schools. We want to start at the grassroot level”, he noted.
The head of state added that if persons are educated then they can most definitely be self employed. He urged youths, who have acquired tertiary education but still remain jobless, to produce goods and services and export.
“There is work, there is enterprise beckoning to all of you if you are educated. You can process fish, process fruit into fruit juice, you don’t always have to sell them by the bridge (plantain chips), you can package them and sell them to Guatemala, Jamaica…cows that produce milk, you can make cheese but if you have education you can make use of these raw materials.”
Meanwhile, Minister Amna Ally in her speech said that the event is a testimony of what is good governance and a testimony to show how caring of a leader the country has.

The recently donated bus

Students of Fyrish Primary School

“He initiated the five B’s programmeme in 2015 because during outreaches and campaigns we saw the plight of the children who lived in rural and hinterland areas…who could not attend school regularly because of the long journey to and from school. We saw challenges of parents because they could not afford the cost of transportation. We acted, because this government is a proactive government”.
With over 26 buses servicing the Regions, Region Six has become one of the biggest recipients to the five B’s programmeme. According to the Minister, the programmeme has been successful because the government has been bridging the gap of education between hinterland and coastal regions by providing increased access to transportation for school children. She revealed that school attendance has been significantly improved in areas where the David ‘G’ buses are operating with parents expressing satisfaction with the additional transportation cost being removed.
“We are cognizant that education empowers people with the knowledge, skills and values they need to build an economically sustainable nation”, she said.
In response to the Regional Chairman’s comments made at a recent rally/protest in Berbice; Ally charged, “I want to send the message to your Regional Chairman and those who said that buses are only put in the coalition areas but let me give you the facts. Region Six was not won by the coalition but we have put buses here.
“There are currently three buses in operation in Region Six, one on the East Bank Berbice from Kortbradt – New Amsterdam, Central Corentyne from Rose Hall Town – Number 51 Village and Upper Corentyne from Number 51 Village – Corriverton.


The East Bank route is said to be transporting an average of 180 persons per day with the average bus per student return of $400 per day. Families are able to save an average of $72,000 per day, $360,000 a week and $1.4 million a year, according to Kim Stephens –Williams, the Regional Executive Officer of Region Six. She stated that the numbers are significantly higher for other buses with larger catchment areas.




Proof in the pudding

Django
Last edited by Django
@Django posted:

They removed the buses that was providing free transportation ,do the math for cost of transportation. You will find which is better.

Every school child will benefit from the grant. Was every school child benefiting from the buses?

Secondly, maybe the buses are not in operational condition why they are not being used.

FM
@Former Member posted:

Every school child will benefit from the grant. Was every school child benefiting from the buses?

Secondly, maybe the buses are not in operational condition why they are not being used.

Yes every school children ,read the article.  Your second sentence ,is an excuse for the political party supported .

Removing the buses is vindictive ,anyway the PPP are back with what they have done when taking office in 1992 .

Django
@Django posted:

Yes every school children ,read the article.  Your second sentence ,is an excuse for the political party supported .

Removing the buses is vindictive ,anyway the PPP are back with what they have done when taking office in 1992 .

Are you saying that every school child in the country benefited from Granger buses. Even those who lived right next door to the school?

FM
@Former Member posted:

Why Granger putting his name on buses? Did he expect to be president for as long as the buses were operational? Now they have to spend unnecessary money to wipe his name off.

The B's was his pet programme ,the buses was donated , President wasn't marked on the buses. Hate is bad thing.

Did you figure the savings the students parents saved ?

Django
@Former Member posted:

Are you saying that every school child in the country benefited from Granger buses.

Even those who lived right next door to the school?

Banna , you joking right . What's the purpose for transportation ?

Django
@Django posted:

Banna , you joking right . What's the purpose for transportation ?

See where I was going? Therefore not every school child benefited from Granger’s buses. The ones living right next door were neglected. Now they too will equally benefit from the PPP program.

FM
@Django posted:

The B's was his pet programme ,the buses was donated , President wasn't marked on the buses. Hate is bad thing.

Did you figure the savings the students parents saved ?

Maybe they will also discover that those donated buses were overpaid by the Coalition government.

 I thought you said the president name was on the buses.

 I have no idea why you infused hate into the argument.

Lastly, we just established that granger buses only benefited selected school children so while they saved others didn’t.

FM
@Former Member posted:

Maybe they will also discover that those donated buses were overpaid by the Coalition government.

 I thought you said the president name was on the buses.

 I have no idea why you infused hate into the argument.

Lastly, we just established that granger buses only benefited selected school children so while they saved others didn’t.

The more trying to defend ,digging holes for your self .The buses was donated . Granger name on the buses ,not President Granger ,there is a difference .

There is hate for everything Granger did ,that's the reason. More parents benefited from the program more than the few who lived around the school. Do the math instead of finding excuses.

Django
@Former Member posted:

See where I was going? Therefore not every school child benefited from Granger’s buses. The ones living right next door were neglected.

Now they too will equally benefit from the PPP program.

Do the math ,how many parents benefited tremendously from the program ? Thousands of parents will have to fork out money for transportation ,$10,000 can't do squat. What's the percentage of School children lives next door ?

Any way backward thinking by the people ,who thinks they are the sharpest tool in the shed.

Django
Last edited by Django
@Django posted:

Do the math ,how many parents benefited tremendously from the program ? Thousands of parents will have to fork out money for transportation ,$10,000 can't do sqat.

It doesn’t matter how many school children benefited or by how much because not every school child benefited whereas every school child will benefit equally from the school grant.

FM
@Django posted:

The more trying to defend ,digging holes for your self .The buses was donated . Granger name on the buses ,not President Granger ,there is a difference .

There is hate for everything Granger did ,that's the reason. More parents benefited from the program more than the few who lived around the school. Do the math instead of finding excuses.

Amna Ally also said that the government didn’t pay for those concert tickets but now we find out the government paid $50M for them. Time will tell about these buses too.

FM
@Former Member posted:

It doesn’t matter how many school children benefited or by how much because not every school child benefited whereas every school child will benefit equally from the school grant.

It's across the board ,more parents will feel burden ,is that so ? take a guess percentage of students lived around the schools .

Carry on i am done , have your last say defending the backwards politicians.

Django
@Former Member posted:

Amna Ally also said that the government didn’t pay for those concert tickets but now we find out the government paid $50M for them. Time will tell about these buses too.

What that have to do with the buses ?

Have a great day.

Django
@Django posted:

It's across the board ,more parents will feel burden ,is that so ? take a guess percentage of students lived around the schools .

Carry on i am done , have your last say defending the backwards politicians.

How can it be across the board when not everyone actually got a ride on those buses?

Regarding backward politicians why did the majority of the voters rejected the coalition if they were less backward? Are you suggesting that they cannot be trusted to decide who to vote for?

FM
@Former Member posted:

How can it be across the board

when not everyone actually got a ride on those buses?

Regarding backward politicians why did the majority of the voters rejected the coalition if they were less backward? Are you suggesting that they cannot be trusted to decide who to vote for?

Have to be back to explain ,across the board is $10,000. More people had more money in their pocket than the $10,000. That's what you failed to grasp.

Which majority ? the FRAUDELENT Votes !!!!  in Guyana voting is RACE based .

Django
Last edited by Django
@Django posted:

Have to be back to explain ,across the board is $10,000. More people had more money in their pocket than the $10,000. That's what you failed to grasp.

Which majority ? the FRAUDELENT Votes !!!!  in Guyana most people voting is RACE based .

Let’s circle back. Did granger buses pick up every school child and took them to school? If not then it is not better than every school child getting the same amount of money for school?

FM

Why do you people argue over everything?  This is a good move by the Govt. 

Granger’s bus initiative was good in spirit but just not scalable in a feasible manner. To meet the needs you will need well over a thousand busses. This means drivers, maintenance and all the costs associated with upkeep.  What happens during the day, the busses park and drivers sleep?

In addition, the government is getting back in competition with private operators. This is a failed model. 

The PPP needs to take some additional steps apart from the 10k.  This is just one component. 

You people need to be more positive. neither was all bad however, I believed the PPP approach is more scalable. 

Baseman
Last edited by Baseman

'You people need to be more positive'.  I hope a new star is born to make GCDF a better place for all discussions. 

On another issue. Giving people money in Guyana is seldom a good move. Because it never seems to be used for the purpose its is intended. Providing the service useful for the people, is a better option.  

Tola
@Tola posted:

'You people need to be more positive'.  I hope a new star is born to make GCDF a better place for all discussions. 

On another issue. Giving people money in Guyana is seldom a good move. Because it never seems to be used for the purpose its is intended. Providing the service useful for the people, is a better option.  

You seem to think little of people but your ilk. There are controls for this, the students attendance records. 

You are a typical “spit in the face” coolie.  When they down, you kick them more.  I just had a run in with one on TCV regarding helping the single mother of 10.   Coolies and true crabs.

BTW, where’s Rochelle?  I want to hear her viewpoint.

Baseman
@Baseman posted:

You seem to think little of people but your ilk. There are controls for this, the students attendance records. 

You are a typical “spit in the face” coolie.  When they down, you kick them more.  I just had a run in with one on TCV regarding helping the single mother of 10.   Coolies and true crabs.

BTW, where’s Rochelle?  I want to hear her viewpoint.

You should look in the mirror again, regarding your 'spit in the face' collie track record. 

What controls, when cash is given to the student families ? Maybe Priya will live with each family to see how they spend the cash. 

Also, most modest people don't come on a public forum and display their 'extraordinary' deeds to others. They might be the coolie and true crabs.  

Tola
@Mitwah posted:

That's your MO on this forum targeting female posters.  You are so sly and devious.

Some posters in the past were known for stalking female members and even interfering with their phones and jobs. 

Tola
@Tola posted:

Some posters in the past were known for stalking female members and even interfering with their phones and jobs. 

Really? 

Thanks for the warning. 

I will be careful.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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