‘Because we care’ cash grant for Kuru Kururu schools receives $52.8M

Parents and guardians of 1,760 students along the lower Linden Soesdyke Highway were assured that government will continue to invest in the future of their children.

Public Affairs Minister, Kwame Mc Coy made the disclosure as he spearheaded the ‘Because We Care’ $30,000 school cash grant exercise at the Kuru Kururu Primary School. The minister revealed that an estimated $52.8 million was distributed to students attending the Kuru Kururu nursery, Kuru Kururu Primary, and Kuru Kururu Primary Top.

“We will continue to work very hard for our children and for our children’s education. We will continue to work very hard for the development of our people, our communities, and our country,” McCoy told parents and guardians.

The Minister issued a call to parents to continue to make the maximum investments in their children. He noted that the government wants Guyana to produce the best children compared to any part of the world.

Minister McCoy tressed that Guyana has a glorious future but noted that the investment must be made to ensure the people of Guyana are able to enjoy the benefits.

“That is why we give support many other areas in the education sector along with which you the parents, the mothers and fathers would chip in, with your investment and so we have a holistic and total package for the investment in our children’s education,” he said.

It was disclosed at the distribution exercise earlier Tuesday, several parents expressed sentiments of gratitude as the government continues to work for all citizens of Guyana.

Sullyann Allicock, a single parent of five children, commended the government for what they are doing to support the education of children.

“I think it is a very good initiative with the government helping people that could hardly help themselves and even those that can help themselves are still benefitting. It is a very good thing and I am excited,” Allicock said who admitted that her children are in both primary and secondary.

Savitri Ali explained that the grant will “at least it would help us with the text books, the clothes and footwear, mostly helping the children to better off their education and we are thankful for it.” Meanwhile, similar sentiments were also echoed by Marlon Marks.

“It will come in as ease for me on the school things and what I got to deal with. Sometimes I do find it hard but this small thing that coming here now will help to fill the gap,” Marks said.

It was disclosed that the school cash grant was first introduced in 2014 by the PPP/C administration. However, under the APNU/AFC administration, it was discontinued.

As such, the programme was reintroduced in 2021 after the return of the PPP/C- Irfaan Ali-led government into office. Further, in 2021, the grant was increased from $10,000 per child to $19,000. Additionally, in 2022, the amount was increased to $30,000 per child. McCoy said the figure represents $25,000 for the school cash grant and$5000 for the school uniform voucher. The minister added that the students from both public and private schools are benefitting from government’s initiative.