Parents urged to uplift uniform vouchers

Priya ManickchandGeorgetown: The school uniform voucher distribution that began on June 20 is scheduled to end when school closes for this term on July 5, and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand is urging parents to uplift the vouchers at the school which the students attend.

The Education Minister noted that the vouchers have to be picked up now and are available for all school children, as well as those at technical and vocational institutions and the orphanages.

While the response for uplifting of the vouchers has always been great, she noted that it will be of great benefit to parents. While the school uniform vouchers will not grant all that is needed for school, it will assist parents.

Guyana is the only Caricom country providing this service for its school children.

The distribution of school uniform vouchers commenced earlier this month in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, 10 and Georgetown. In Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry is facilitating the distribution of school uniform materials under their annual national programme.

Last year, $296.7 million was spent on the National School Uniform Programme which benefitted over 190,000 children in nursery, primary and secondary schools.

Government is committed to continue implementing programmes aimed at improving students’ attendance, providing them with a better opportunity to complete school and receive a sound education thereby empowering them to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Apart from the uniform programme, the Administration in an effort to increase enrolment and attendance rates, as well as reduce the drop-out rate, spent over $1.2 billion on the School Feeding Programme, which benefitted over 64,000 students in 2012.