GOVERNMENT’s commitment to supporting and transforming the country’s education system remains strong, and achievements over the last years in both attendance and outstanding performance are testimony to prudent educational policies and programmes.
This was reiterated by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand during a recent visit to several communities in the Mahaicony creek, Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice).
Following the visit, Minister Manickchand also met with scores of parents, students and teachers at the Karamat Primary School where she participated in the distribution of school uniform vouchers. While reflecting on the successes of the school uniform programme, she said it was introduced about a decade ago to improve school attendance across the country.
The programme, Minister Manickchand added, which was initially started by the Difficult Circumstances Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to assist persons with difficult circumstances, was eventually integrated into the wider school system.
“So what started as just a programme for persons in difficult circumstances is now benefitting every single child in the school system…money must not be seen as a barrier to obtaining an education in Guyana,” Minister Manickchand said.
The right to an education, she said is the fundamental right of every child in Guyana and therefore, government will not stand idly and allow children to be deprived of obtaining an education, regardless of ethnicity, geographical location and parents’ financial status.
Against this background, she said that the effectiveness of the programme has not only contributed to a higher school attendance but also created a deeper appreciation for education.
In addition to providing free exercise and text books, teaching materials, hot meals, snacks and school uniform materials and uniform vouchers, Minister Manickchand said the administration continues to be innovative in finding other new ways and initiatives to ensure children attend school.
The school uniform programme was initiated by former President Bharrat Jagdeo from which thousands of children annually benefit.
In 2011 Government spent $266M for the school uniform programme for which over $63M was directed to the purchase of uniform materials for Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 and the remainder for the six other administrative regions.
Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2012/07/02/region-5-begins-receiving-school-uniform-vouchers