In less than a month, more than 8,800 school-uniform vouchers have been distributed; programme has five more weeks to go
Many parents continue to praise the United Progressive Party (UPP) for introducing the School Uniform Grant Programme, which is assisting families during this period of serious economic hardship.
Since this year’s distribution began on July 4, officials report that thousands of vouchers have been distributed, to date, with about five weeks left in the programme.
According to the organizers, 8,854 vouchers have been distributed to beneficiaries in less than a month’s time.
They expect that figure to increase significantly as the new school year approaches, and as parents and guardians make preparations for children to return to the classrooms.
Tanesha McKenzie-James, Supervisor of the programme, is expressing satisfaction at its smooth execution so far.
She says the objective is to have beneficiaries complete the process within a short period of time, and she is pleased that the staff is living up to expectation and offering excellent customer service.
For new students to be registered, a copy of the student’s birth certificate, or passport information, must be presented, along with an acceptance letter from their new school. Alternatively, they should present the third-term report from the school they currently attend,
In addition, the parent or guardian must present a government-issued photo identification card.
If an application is made to the Ministry of Education for a transfer, the uniform programme should not be accessed until a decision on that transfer has been returned.
This year’s School Uniform Grant Programme ends on Friday, September 2.
The programme began in the first term of the Baldwin Spencer Administration with two uniform vouchers being issued every year. The number has since been reduced to one voucher that is redeemable for a regular uniform at select vendors across the island.
In this period of economic hardship for so many families, however, many persons believe the Browne Administration should have increased the number, back to two, to help ease the squeeze.
