“In this year’s Budget, I call on the Government to reintroduce the laptop programme for all Form One students and the free student transport to schools in all areas. I also call for the reintroduction of an annual school grant fixed at $1,500 for primary school students and $2,000 for secondary school students, to be offered to any child in need of assistance.” This from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP.
In a Media Release on Thursday (12th September 2023), Mrs. Persad-Bissessar said, “With the Budget fast approaching, I make a renewed call to the Government to think of our children and the sacrifices of their hardworking parents. It is time for the Government to reintroduce an annual school grant, the laptop programme for all Form One students and the free student transport to schools in all areas throughout the country. Recently we saw that thousands of our children were lost from the school system during Covid, due to not having computers to access online learning. The Government sat idly by, relying on donations from the private sector to meet this need after cancelling the UNC’s laptop programme, which had previously ensured that every child had access to a computer at home and school.” She added, “Hardworking parents continue to struggle to pay for uniforms, textbooks, photocopies, and stationary supplies and as such, I call on the Government to reintroduce the annual school grant. Many students are struggling to attend school because of the increased cost of transportation, triggered by the removal of the fuel subsidy. The free transport programme is therefore essential to ensure the attendance, safety, and security of our nation's children. The Government must act to ensure that no child is left behind. They are our nation’s future.” The Opposition Leader also recently called on the Government to raise the minimum wage to at least $25 per hour and to couple this with a removal of VAT on all food items. We are a small operation. If you've found our articles to be informative, please consider supporting us via PayPal or buying us a coffee. Your contribution is incredibly appreciated and goes a long way. Simply sharing our articles also helps us. Sign up for our free WhatsApp Alerts to be notified as soon as we post breaking news. NEW! Check out our Merchandise Store for high-quality t-shirts, hats and more!
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