PPP bats for return of $10,000 cash grant
On the heels of Education Month, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) calls for the return of the $10,000 Education cash grant and the annual budgetary allocation for the University of Guyana’s Student Loan Scheme. The former administration said that the new Administration’s “arbitrary” elimination of the cash grant has not escaped their attention nor has Government’s move to not fund the University of Guyana for the new academic year. “This grant along with other visionary initiatives implemented by the PPP/Civic government, including the School Uniform Voucher and the National School Feeding Programmes, has proven to be instrumental in improving attendance,” said the party in a statement.
“The PPP/C believes if the Granger Administration wants to truly achieve this year’s theme of “Quality Education Leadership: Improving Schools from Within”, then it must create the right environment,” the statement continued.
Mere days ago during the 2015 budget presentation, Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine assured citizens that the money that was once used to fund the cash grant programme will be “redirected” towards widening of the school- feeding programme, among other enhancements. “I wish to say that the funds will be redirected into the increase of the uniform voucher programme and the widening of the school-feeding programme,’’ said the minister, while adding that, “the large school buses have to come back,’’ citing the dangers and expensive travelling in the current buses.
Government has criticised the education cash grant initiated under the previous administration as political gimmickry. Many felt that the programme should have been tied to students’ performance, with the focus being on building strong parental involvement in children’s education, which would more likely have yielded value for the money invested.
In regard to the UG loan subvention, Finance Minister Winston Jordon at a recent post-cabinet press briefing defended Government’s position on not providing the University with any subvention for the year. $1B that was accumulated in the revolving fund, said Jordon, will be sufficient to fund the loan programme for the year. In a nutshell, Jordon meant that the University is now able to fund itself for the new academic year. At the launch of Education month on Tuesday, Dr. Roopnaraine reiterated that the Ministry of Education, under his authority, will continue to better those programmes that were once implemented by the former administration and discontinue those that are not fit.