THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has extended congratulations to the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on the commencement of Government of Guyana’s $10,000 “Because We Care” Cash Grant, for every child in the public school system.This is a fulfillment of yet another promise of the PPP/Civic Administration and again reinforced the importance we  have placed on development of the human capital of our country.

“We see this financial assistance, coupled with the national school uniform programme, the school feeding exercise as well as the free textbooks among others, as all part of a macro programme of our government to advance the education of our people.
The PPP/Civic, from its inception has been advocating for free education for all of our people and when we took office in 1992, we immediately began the process of making this a reality.”
“We have successfully achieved this, our track record is there to prove.
In 2013 for example, 15.9 percent of the National Budget was spent in the education sector, followed by 13 percent this year. In 1992, it was a mere 5 percent.
Because of this consistent investment over the past 22 years we have managed to build or refurbished more than 1000 schools across the country. Today, there are 130 nursery schools across the hinterland, 250 primary schools, and 17 secondary schools.
72 % of teachers spread across the country are trained, compared to 30% trained two decades ago. More than 50 percent of the teachers in the Hinterland regions are trained, through the Guyana Basic Education Teacher Training Programme, and other initiatives that facilitate distance training,” the party said
The party noted too that ninety-two percent of the clusters have access to a Learning Resource Centre (LRC). ninety percent of the schools have a teachers’ house and 90% are equipped with sanitary blocks, 45% with electricity and 83% with water facilities.
Having achieved Universal Primary education, our focus this year is on secondary education.
Currently, a modern secondary school under construction at Kato, Region 8, and there is consideration for the construction of one in the Upper Mazaruni.
“We have been providing transportation in the hinterland to our school children to ensure that we ease the burden from parents on getting their children to school on a daily basis, while we are providing hot meals at some hinterland schools.
As a result, 74% of our nursery school students are attending school, 81% primary and 82% secondary,” the party noted
It added: “Our efforts over the past two decades are not only recognisded at home or in the region, but also on the global stage and in 2012, President Donald Ramotar was named by United Nations Secretary General Ban-ki-moon on his Global Initiative on Education committee.
We in the PPP can stand proud of our record in every sector including education and again we take this opportunity to congratulate Minister Priya Manickchand on the roll out of the Government of Guyana.”