– at education grant distribution at West Ruimveldt

THE distribution of Government’s ‘Because We Care’ $10,000 grant continued on Saturday at several locations including the West Ruimveldt Primary School in Georgetown and simultaneously at other locations around the country.

The initiative was launched on Saturday, October 11 at the Bartica Community Centre Ground in Region Seven, where hundreds of parents and children, gathered in the presence of President Donald Ramotar and a number of

ministers to collect their grants.

Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, who was at West Ruimveldt, urged parents to do their part, pointing out that parental involvement in their children’s lives would benefit them in the future. He indicated that whilst Government, the teachers and schools are doing their part, it is essential for parents to do theirs also.

The Government Minister noted too that the administration’s commitment to the future of the country rests in its children. Stressing the importance of the education sector, Minister Edghill observed that whilst Guyana has achieved universal access to primary education, the country is moving rapidly towards achieving the same for secondary education. He observed also the number of schools built and rehabilitated across the country.

Focusing on the hinterland, the minister stated that dormitories were built for those children who could not undertake the daily travelling to and from school. He explained also that the school uniform and school feeding programmes have also contributed to keeping children in school.

Minister Edghill warned however, that the grant being given out is not intended for entertainment but for education “because education is key to the future.”

Minister Edghill insisted that parents urge their children to concentrate on school and learning. He pointed out that education is the key to getting out of poverty.

Minister Edghill issued a charge to parents to play their role and fulfill their responsibilities to their children.

He was greeted with resounding applause when he pointed out the fact that many persons attend big shows well decked out whilst children have nothing in their book bags. “We have to change that culture,” Minister Edghill insisted.

He explained that the reason the education grant is being rolled out now, is because of the eight years of consecutive growth which have enabled this to happen.
Pointing out the various ways in which the country has grown, he also described the institutions which have been established for the benefit of all Guyanese. The minister urged parents to further invest in their children for a better Guyana in the future.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the $10,000 ‘Because We Care’ initiative is the first programme of its kind in the Caribbean and indeed anywhere else in this part of the world, where every public school child is entitled to this benefit. The only eligibility criteria required to benefit from the programme is that a student must be on the register of a public school.
To this end, every class in every school across Guyana was asked to submit a list of the students on the current 2014/2015 Register. Head teachers were instructed to verify the lists submitted by their class teachers and Regional Education Officers were instructed to further verify those lists submitted by schools in their region.