President Irfaan Ali today granted approval for the government’s ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and School Uniform and Supplies grant programme to be extended to allow children attending private schools to benefit.
“After consultation, a favourable decision was made. It is estimated that some 17,000 students will benefit from the investment, which will amount to more than $320 [million],” the Office of the President announced this afternoon, while saying that the figure would complement the $3.3 billion already distributed to the parents of the more than 175,000 students attending public schools.
The grants were originally only applicable to children in the public school system but OP noted that a number of parents from private schools had asked for the programme to be extended to their children.
Under the ‘Because We Care’ programme, cash grants are given to the parents of each child attending school, to provide support in procuring school supplies.
The ‘Because We Care’ grant is now valued at $15,000 and the School Uniform and Supplies Grant is valued at $4,000, amounting to $19,000 per student.
OP said President Ali has issued instructions for work to commence immediately to make the pay out to all eligible parents.
