– Phase Two of programme to start Monday
SOME 156,000 school uniform vouchers have been distributed; so far to coastland students in phase one of the programme.
Under the coastland programme, some 165,000 vouchers are being distributed to students. Phase one of the programme ends today. The remaining vouchers will be distributed in phase two of the programme which commences on July 11 and concludes on July 22. Education Minister Mr. Shaik Baksh is urging parents who have not yet uplifted vouchers for their children, to do so in the second phase of the initiative. The programme is part of a national drive to bolster students’ attendance throughout the country.
The $300M programme covers nursery, primary and secondary schools learners countrywide. A relative can uplift the voucher(s) in the absence of the parent but must provide an identification card, or, the child/children’s report card(s).
The vouchers worth $1500 each and are distributed by the learner’s class teacher. In phase two, the distribution time has been adjusted. The distribution at nursery, primary and secondary schools will be commence at 11:00 hrs and conclude at 13:00 hrs from Monday to Friday.   
The vouchers are redeemable at designated stores in the regions that the children reside. The Amerindian Affairs Ministry is coordinating distribution in the hinterland regions.   
Apart from the school uniform programme, government has also implemented a $1billion school feeding programme which is also geared to improve students’ attendance and performance.
This initiative benefits more than 51,000 learners. It caters for pupils of all nursery schools and those at Grades One and Two at primary schools throughout the country.
Initial reports have indicated that the programme has already started to generate positive results.
These initiatives aims to improve students’ attendance, build their self esteem, provide them a better opportunity to complete school, receive a sound education and make a meaningful contribution to society.
Meanwhile, the national remedial programme targeting poor performers in English and Mathematics at Grades Two, Three and Four at the primary level and Grades Seven and Eight at secondary schools will begin on Monday.
The Education Ministry is pushing for these learners to take their studies seriously and strive to be on top of their work when school reopens in September.
The national remedial programme seeks to provide supplementary tuition to learners who gained less than 50 per cent at the 2010/2011 annual end-of-year examination. The objective of the programme is to upgrade these learners to an acceptable level so that they would be able to perform better in their new classes when school reopens in September.
Last year, some 13,500 children were part of the one month, short term enrichment programme which was delivered by 800 teachers. These teachers were trained to impart the programme in a fun-filled manner and the same format will be used this year.
It will be delivered to targeted learners in clusters at selected schools. The classes will be small to ensure students receive individual attention.
In addition, the students will be provided with snacks on a daily basis and their teachers will be paid a stipend.