Dear Editor,
We appreciate the reported commitment of government to continue the school uniform voucher programme and its promise to consider increasing the amount. We would like the amount per voucher to be increased from the present sum of $1500 to at least $15000. We have been saying for a very long time that the uniform voucher is totally insufficient! $1500 in some cases can only buy one item of the uniform. See below:
Cost for basic school clothes for a secondary school child
Unit cost
School skirt – $900 to $1700
School shirt – $1500 to $2000
School pants (long) – $3000 up. The bigger the size the more you pay.
School bag (cheap) – $3500 to $4000
School shoes (cheap) $3500
Pair of socks – $ 300
Total $12,700 to $14,500
Note as we’ve said that these are very basic (and of course cheap and inferior) items and there is still the need for us to deal with the cost of stationery, text books, transportation, lessons fees, assignments and projects plus other contributions demanded by schools.
However, there is what might seem to be a little issue with regard to using the voucher which we would like to point out:
The voucher is used to purchase different school items, ready-made pieces of the uniform, uniform materials or stationery. Depending on what we buy, if the item costs less than the voucher amount, we have to take something else even if we don’t need it. We also have to pay the difference if the balance on the voucher is not sufficient to cover the cost of the extra item taken.
Our suggestions:
- The increased voucher be made out in parts so that if one store does not have all that is needed, we would be able to shop around.
- An arrangement be made with the proprietors that if there is a balance it be given to the customer in cash so that she/he is not forced to make unnecessary purchases.
With regard to the $10,000 “because we care” grant, we noticed an article in KN, July 17, headlined, ‘Govt reviewing fiscally unsustainable $10,000 cash grant.’ As grassroots women and single mothers we were never enthused by that programme, and we made this clear in a letter to the newspapers on the introduction of the grant and also in a television programme we hosted on Channel 2 in November 2013 entitled, ‘Grassroots women, real issues.’ For us, in addition to the increased uniform voucher, it makes more sense to ensure that each child is provided with the text books for each subject, and that school buses be provided to transport school children (and other groups like people with disabilities and the elderly).
In addition, we are strongly in agreement with Mr Nowrang Persaud and Mr Michael Khan, CEO of GPHC, with regard to their letters in SN concerning breakfast for schoolchildren. From 2001 to 2011 when Red Thread organized a literacy programme for schoolchildren at our centre, we were forced to provide a meal at each session after one child told us he couldn’t focus on the work because he was hungry and we realized that this was a widespread problem.
These changes would help to ease the already heavy burden on grassroots parents, especially single mothers and should be seriously considered.
Yours faithfully,
Joy Marcus
Wintress White
Halima Khan
Susan Collymore
Red Thread
