Education Minister Sonia Parag has moved to dispel concerns regarding the ongoing distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, reaffirming that every registered student will receive their disbursement.
Minister Parag addressed reports of minor complications during the rollout, specifically regarding multiple family members attempting to claim the same grant. She clarified that the Ministry’s standing policy is clear: the grant is provided to the primary caregiver—the individual with whom the child resides and who is actively providing for their needs.
In instances involving custody disputes or family disagreements, the Ministry of Education is collaborating directly with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to resolve issues on a case-by-case basis.
Responding to social media rumors suggesting that some students were being excluded from the process, Minister Parag stated that the Ministry conducted comprehensive checks across all schools. These audits confirmed that no registered child has been denied their grant.
Key points from the Minister’s update include:
Eligibility: All children registered for the 2026-2027 school year, including those continuing and those just starting, are entitled to the grant.
Efficiency: The Ministry has deployed teams across all 11 school districts to monitor the process. The Minister noted that distribution in Regions 4 and 5 has been well-structured, allowing parents and guardians to clear distribution points quickly without significant congestion.
Monitoring: The Minister affirmed that the vast majority of registered children received their grants during the initial two-day distribution window.
Minister Parag reiterated her commitment to ensuring the grant reaches its intended beneficiaries, emphasizing that the structured system currently in place is effectively managing issues as they arise.
