More than 2000 Linden school students are set to benefit from the human services ministry’s annual school uniform programme where vouchers were recently distributed for parents to redeem for uniform and other supplies.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand said this is a significant number as that accounts for about 17% of the Linden school population. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release she also said the World Bank had said that 18% of Guyana’s population lives in extreme poverty and therefore this intervention will enhance many lives.
GINA said pupils from schools in South Amelia’s Ward, Children’s Garden, Republic Avenue, Oronoque Drive, Pine Street Republic Avenue, Watooka Day Nurseries; Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Regma, Watooka Day Primaries; Linden Foundation Secondary School and Mackenzie High School will benefit from the vouchers.
Also, the Programme has been expanding and a total of $55M has been allocated this year to benefit 30,000 children. The ministry has also sought assistance from head teachers across the country this year, to identify children in their schools who need this form of assistance. Children who reside in children’s homes and handicapped children also benefit from this Programme. Manickchand also appealed to parents to ensure that they use the vouchers in the best interest of their children, pointing out that while the current economic situation is challenging, one of the best things that they can do for their children is to ensure that they are educated. She also said the assistance is intended to encourage parents to continue to send their children to school and she urged them to take their responsibilities seriously.
Meanwhile, the ministry will be collaborating with the regional officials to provide uniforms instead of vouchers for riverain communities. Each voucher is valued $1500 and can only be used for purchasing school supplies for students or their uniforms. When redeeming these vouchers parents are expected to take along their identification cards to ensure strict accountability in the process.
The ministry also plans to encourage businesses to participate in the distribution of the vouchers through advertisements published in the press.
The Linden vouchers can be redeemed for school items at Levoy’s Variety Store, the Mackenzie Market, Mayfil Greene Variety Store, Central Amelia’s Ward and Ann Leach at the Mackenzie Market.
Meanwhile, as part of observations for Rehabilitation Week, vouchers were on Wednesday handed over to Dionne McKenzie, Head teacher of the David Rose School for the Handicapped.
