Gov’t uniform programme…
(A GINA Feature)
GOVERNMENT’S commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society remains strong, and its achievements over the last year have materially improved the lives of the less fortunate, including women, single parents and children.
Much emphasis is being placed on ensuring that the rights of children are protected, and that their economic as well as basic need for love, care and attention are fulfilled.
This is being done through lending assistance with daycare expenses for working mothers, and the provision of school uniforms for students countrywide, and meals or snacks for certain grades.
This year, the uniform programme has taken on a historic dimension, as 200,000 children, or all school-age children across public schools are slated to benefit!
This project is an initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo, and thousands of children annually have been benefitting from it since its inception in 2003.
The Ministry of Education is spearheading the government’s school uniform distribution exercise, and to date, over 130,000 vouchers have already been issued in time for the new school year.
The project had initially been conducted by the Difficult Circumstances Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, but the Education Ministry is now integrally involved in the uniform voucher programme.
The project, which includes the provision of a uniform to every school-aged child, is being funded at a cost of $500M, with a mandate to ensure equal opportunity for all in the field of education. 
The annual budget to facilitate the programme has been increasing over the years as shown below: $31M in 2002 benefitted 10,000 children; $34M in 2003 with 12,000 benefiting; $40M in 2004 with 13,000 beneficiaries; $40M in 2005 with 14,000 benefiting; $77M in 2006 with 30,000 beneficiaries; $40M in 2007 benefiting 26,000; $55M in 2008 for the benefit of 36, 666 while $55M in 2009 benefitted 36,000.
President Jagdeo, during his New Year’s Day message, had announced plans to have all students clothed through the government initiative.
The project is an expansion of an existing uniform distribution programme, which was introduced in 2003 to boost school attendance especially in rural, riverine and hinterland communities.
It is done in a voucher format, and also caters for Amerindian students through coordination from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
“On the Coastland it is voucher-based but in the Hinterland we would send the material and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs would have groups in the community that would sew the uniforms,” Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said.

Since the start of distribution, several persons have expressed satisfaction with the government’s programme.
“I’m happy at the satisfaction of both the parents and teachers,” Minister Baksh said, adding: “They have praised the programme. Everywhere I go people are commending this programme. It goes a far way in outfitting the children in spanking new outfits. There are no complaints.”

He noted that the initiative has contributed to the welfare of less fortunate children, ensuring that they stay in school and benefit from a quality education.
Money should never be an object in ensuring there are no barriers to the learning process, he said, and expressed the hope that with the expansion of the economy, all education-based programmes, including meals, clothing and books will be expanded even further.

Parents capitalise on the uniform vouchers for their children which is being distributed at schools countrywide

The Ministry of Education has found that school attendance is intricately linked to uniform assistance, free transportation, and the provision of meals.
When it first started, the uniform project targeted persons in difficult circumstances, particularly those who were eligible for public assistance and female-headed households.
The uniform programme is being complemented by the school feeding programme, and $800M has been budgeted for this aspect.
While some children enjoy a hot meal, as in hinterland areas, others on the coastland are benefitting from a nutritious snack.