Money from cash grant to be plugged into other programmes –school buses to be brought back

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MONEY from the $10,000 education cash grant programme will be plugged into the school-feeding programme, besides another increase in the uniform voucher programme and the procurement of school buses. Despite the public’s criticism of Government’s move to put distribution of the cash grant on hold, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, during his budget debate presentation to the National Assembly last Friday, assured citizens that the money that was once used to fund the cash grant programme will be “redirected” towards widening of the school- feeding programme, among other enhancements. “I wish to say that the funds will be redirected into the increase of the uniform voucher programme and the widening of the school-feeding programme,’’ said the minister, while adding that, “the large school buses have to come back,’’ citing the dangers and expensive travelling in the current buses. Mere days after assuming office, Government had taken steps to review the education sector’s spending priorities which will determine which programmes should continue or not. Under the previous Administration, several policies were implemented which, according to Dr. Roopnaraine, have not resulted in any “meaningful improvement.” The education cash grant initiated under the previous Administration was under thorough review by the new Administration since the manner in which it was implemented, with no criterion to determine who benefits, was more reflective of political gimmickry. Many felt that the programme should have been tied to students’ performance, with the focus being on building strong parental involvement in children’s education, which would more likely have yielded value for the money invested. It is this factor that led Government to review the programme, so as to ensure that the most marginalised groups in the country are the prime beneficiaries of the grant and not those well-off parents and those children who would hardly attend school. “We need to determine how successful we have been in providing and expanding access to education for the most marginalised groups in the country. We will ensure that the system does not perpetuate inequalities by differential levels of access to certain groups, based on their geographical locations and ability to take advantage of educational opportunities,” said Dr. Roopnaraine as he quoted this aspect from the 2015 budget. After a startling discovery that most children attend school on an empty stomach, especially the New Campbellive Secondary School, as highlighted by Dr. Roopnaraine, the new Administration has decided to plug money into feeding those children. “We [Government] believe that we have to try enhancing existing methods like expanding the meals and school-feeding programmes, and to come up with new methods to create access to education,” concluded Dr. Roopnaraine. Among new methods are community involvement, revamping of the Parents and Teachers’ Association programmes and the re-establishment of regional education, among others.