Education Minister says heartfelt thanks to teachers and support staff

AS the distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant comes to a close in Georgetown and in most of the other Regions, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand has expressed thanks to all the teachers, schools and regional support personnel from the Departments of Education, Parent Teacher Associations, and Officers from the Central Ministry for their time and commitment to seeing this programme through to the end.

During remarks made at the Cummings Lodge Secondary School, Minister Priya Manickchand expressed these sentiments to parents and guardians who came to uplift their ‘Because We Care’ vouchers.
She said that if it were not for the dedication of these hard working people, the process of serving the thousands of families would have been very difficult. “For the last five to six weeks we have been out every single day serving people…the staff whom you never get to see, have been working incredibly hard to make sure you get your money.” She assured the parents that the ministry plans to continue to work very hard to ensure that children get a quality education.
During the distribution last Saturday more than 700 parents of children from the Cummings Lodge Secondary School uplifted vouchers. Also 16 additional schools in the city were served at 10 locations where $97M was distributed.

PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
More than 55 public consultations were held. The following questions were examined whether parents would prefer to be able to receive cash or exchange a voucher for goods in the manner that the uniform voucher programme is currently operated, and if en-cashing where the preferred option, which service would parents prefer to use to be able to en-cash their vouchers. Choices ranged from the Banks, Mobile Money, Western Union/Bill Express, the Post Office, Money Gram.
Almost unanimously parents chose to receive cash as opposed to goods and an overwhelming majority chose to be able to en-cash at Western Union/Bill Express money services. Where, geographically, there is a limitation of financial services different arrangements would be made.
The ‘Because We Care’ $10,000 Cash Grant programme was launched on October 11, 2014 in Bartica. Parents were reminded that vouchers should be en-cashed at any Western Union Office before November 30.