From the statements being made by various Government spokespersons it seems as if the Granger-led Administration has already made a decision to scrap the “Because We Care” $10,000 per student Cash Grant, which the then PPP/C Government had started. Like most of the policy decisions made so far by the APNU+AFC Government since it took office, this will certainly go down as yet another highly unpopular one.

Such a decision, once confirmed, will have a tremendous negative impact on an already burdened citizenry, especially the poorer segment of the population such as single parents who struggle every day to make ends meet.

Last year, this assistance was welcomed by every parent as they turned out in their numbers at locations across the country to uplift their monies. There was a country-wide distribution of the $10,000 Cash Grant offered to each student attending public school, with the aim of easing the financial burden parents often complain about. This year parents were hoping to receive this assistance again, only to be disappointed.

This was perhaps the only country in the region and one of few in the world that offered such support to its citizens. It should be noted that this grant is in addition to the many other initiatives being instituted to aid parents’ efforts to ensure their children receive a good education.

The reasons being offered by the Government not to continue this assistance to parents are nothing but spurious at best. For example, among the many frivolous excuses are: the assistance is given to everyone and not only poor people, there is a high administration cost to administer the assistance, nothing is built into the programme to show improved attendance and/or enrollment and the programme was meant to be an elections gimmick to win votes for the PPP.

These are mere ‘excuses’ for not continuing this programme, and they are of no help in justifying the rationale behind such a move. In fact, former Minister of Education Priya Manickchand explained that this position has actually exposed Government’s position on the matter, that is, “a disregard for the needs of the people of Guyana and recklessness as it relates to fulfilling promises made only three months ago”.

Guyanese all across the country always look forward to whatever assistance they can get from the State, especially considering the hard times most parents face when they have to take care a long list of financial commitments which they must deal with, especially school expenses. While one cannot dispute the fact that a few parents will use the money for what it was not meant for, this cannot be used as a justification to deny the thousands of poor families who have normally taken full advantage of this relief.

Under the previous Administration, a number of crucial steps were taken towards improving the quality of education students receive. Some of these initiatives are already bearing fruit, while others are still in their implementation stages. The nation is currently reaping the benefits of those investments. For example, better results can be observed at all levels of the school system; including at the CSEC level, more students are attending school, more teachers are being trained and are attending university and there is more involvement of parents and the community as a whole in the management and delivery of education in this country.

The Administration must continue to explore ways and means of investing more money in improving education standards in our country and putting systems in place where more students can attend school. Programmes such as the $10,000 Cash Grant, once managed and administered effectively and transparently will help to boost the efforts which are already being made in improving the performances of our nation’s children.