The Ministry of Education yesterday began the distribution of vouchers for school uniforms and supplies in Region Six, where 22,000 students are expected to benefit at a cost of about $90 million.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha and Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton were all present at various schools within the region throughout the day yesterday to hand over the $4,000 vouchers to head teachers, who are to distribute them to parents this week.
According to Manickchand, across the coastland approximately 160,000 students will benefit, “and that amounts to $650 million at $4,000 each.” She added that students in the hinterland, who have received uniform fabric in previous years, will now receive cash as well due to the delay in sourcing fabric. “…We think people need this kind of assistance right away,” she said.