–over 23,000 school children benefitting to the tune of $1.3B in Region Six,
-$11.3 B in grants being distributed countrywide to 205,000 school children
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, today participated in the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant distribution in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) where over 23,000 school children will benefit at the close of distribution to the tune of $1.3 billion. The cheques were distributed in the various areas of the Region including Rose Hall and Port Mourant. Distribution of the cash grant began countrywide last month, and Government had allocated $11. 3 billion for this initiative in the 2025 Budget, to the benefit of 205,000 children in both public and private schools.
Speaking during the distribution exercise at the various schools Dr. Singh reminded that the PPP/C in its 2020 Manifesto had promised to resume its cash grant to school-children initiative and immediately upon return to office, restarted the roll out of the programme, and each year the grant increased to the extent that now, in 2025, it is $55,000 per child, comprising the $50,000 Because We Care grant and $5,000 for uniform allowance.
“We want to assure you that we will continue to distribute this cash grant in our next term. This is a commitment I know I can make on behalf of the President that the cash grant will be continued by the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government (PPP/C) when we assume office at the end of the September, 2025 elections, and we will continue to provide additional assistance,” Minister Singh explained to parents and students gathered at the schools to uplift the grants.
It can be recalled that during its 2015-2020 term in office, the previous administration- the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Government- callously discontinued the Cash Grant Initiative which had started under the PPP and through which each school child received $10,000.
Government has been continuing to place major focus on the education sector with increased allocations to the sector each year when it resumed office on August 2, 2020. For 2025, $175 billion was allocated to the sector as the administration works toward advancing its vision of free world class education for all Guyanese.
