APNU/AFC Member of Parliament, Ronald Cox, has suggested that the Ministry of Education provide feeding programmes to hinterland community students instead of cash grants.
According to Cox, this will ensure that students in these areas actually benefit from the initiatives set up for them, rather than other persons taking advantage of these benefits.
He opined that in the hinterland communities, the cash grants can be easily used by the parents for other purposes adding that the children would travel long distances and while the cash grants are beneficial if used correctly, the Ministry should provide other necessities to ensure the children are fully benefitting. One suggestion was that kitchens be installed in the schools to have meals made for the children.
He said that the cash grant seemed to be a political strategy which seems to have been successful, but now it’s time to provide. Cox also said that the Ministry has to provide education in an equal manner so the hinterland students can also benefit from the methods being used to educate learners elsewhere.
He noted that that it had always been an initiative under APNU/AFC that WiFi should be installed at all schools across Region One. He challenged the Education Ministry to expand on this to ensure education is being offered equally to all students.
