FOLLOWING a 25% increase in the long-established school uniform voucher programme, some parents are suggesting that the arrangement should be tied into the $10,000 cash grant initiative because they feel that the 25% is “not sufficient.” During the 2015 budget presentation, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced that the school uniform voucher will be increased from $1,500 to $2,000 and is expected to benefit approximately 167,000 students, costing the Government over $337M.
The uniform voucher initiative was established about a decade ago with the intention of improving attendance, participation rates, and attainment levels by ensuring that every child gets the basic necessities for school such as school materials, including uniforms, pencils, and books, among others.
Spotted shopping in the heart of Georgetown was ATISIA FRANK, a mother of three, who has been benefiting from uniform vouchers since its implementation. Asked about her thoughts on Government’s move to increase the voucher allowance, Frank said although she is “thankful,” she is a tad disappointed, as the increase “doesn’t make much of a difference.”
“The $10,000 was a great relief for me, because when ah would get it, ah would go right away and buy them textbooks and so for my kids,” Frank said. She then suggested that Government should link the $10,000 cash grant with the school uniform voucher programme.
Sharing similar thoughts was PAM SANKAR, who was seen shopping at Ken’s Business Enterprise on King Street, Lacytown. Sankar, who has several nieces and nephews, said that they too have been benefiting from the school uniform voucher programme, but it has not been doing much over the past few years, since the amount is “little.”
“They would receive it, but then it’s no money to buy anything; and the increase is worth nothing, though I welcome the move. The $10,000 is better, and used to purchase a lot of things for them,” said Sankar.
Father of six, and owner of Ken’s Business Enterprise, SHAZAM KHAN, echoed similar sentiments.
“I don’t think it’s sufficient; they [Government] need to do more, because if they are going to scrap the $10,000 cash grant, then they have to give more because a family of three or more kids cannot depend on that $2,000 right now,” Khan said, adding that with the drop in business, parents will currently find it tough to make ends meet come September.
Breathing a sigh of relief is JILLYNE BELL, Assistant Mistress (AM) of Paramakatoi Secondary in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), which has a student population of 500.
“I think the increase is great, though it could’ve been more, since the Paramakatoi village itself is very expensive and the majority of parents in the village do subsistence farming to provide for their families and it is difficult for them to purchase uniforms for their children,” said Bell.
Like the others, Bell believes that the programme should be tied in with the $10,000 cash grant, since “it was of great help, and parents made wise use of it in terms of shopping for stationery for their children.”
However, persons who would have received payments ($800) to sew uniforms in remote hinterland locations will now receive a 25% increase, amounting to $1,000.
The “Because We Care” $10,000 cash grant programme that was started under the previous Administration is under thorough review, and will soon be considered by the Ministry of Finance.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Education will take steps to review the education sector’s spending priorities, which will determine whether the programme should continue or not.
Government is currently looking to channel the money towards those persons who need it, since it is of the view that the manner in which the programme was implemented, with no criterion to determine who benefits, was more reflective of political gimmickry.
The distribution of the school uniform vouchers is expected to commence after the budget has been finalised. Government has increased the school uniform voucher, and is also seeking to expand the school-feeding programme, with emphasis on the hinterland locations.

By Shivanie Sugrim