THE Education Ministry has announced via press release issued yesterday that distribution of 2013 uniform vouchers will commence on June 20. Regional Departments of Education have started receiving vouchers and are expected to redistribute same to schools in the new week. Parents are invited to uplift their vouchers as soon as June 20, as the intention is to have every child prepared to start the new school term. “We would like to encourage parents to ensure that they uplift (vouchers) before the close of this term,” the Education release stated.

School uniform vouchers will be distributed in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), and 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and in Georgetown.

In Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will be facilitating the distribution of vouchers under its annual National Programme, the release added.
And parents, guardians and secondary school students with a National Identification Card would be able to uplift vouchers from June 20. The early delivery of vouchers to the regional offices is to facilitate setting up of region-specific documentation mechanisms, deliver vouchers to schools, and provide adequate notification to parents. 

The Ministry also took opportunity to emphasize that every child is entitled to a uniform voucher under the National Uniform Programme, and a complete list of vendors where vouchers are redeemable will be posted at the Education Offices in the regions, and at every school.
The ministry has also advised businesses which have indicated an interest in redeeming vouchers to be ready so to do, and has encouraged those businesses to make their prices competitive. (Chriseana Ramrekha)