– “There should be no excuse for children to stay at home” – Minister Sukhai
That started out as a programme to benefit mainly rural areas, the government’s School Uniform Assistance Programme, is now benefiting thousands of children in Amerindian and hinterland communities, as the administration continues to work in closing the education gap between the coastland and the hinterland.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai and a team from the ministry visited several Amerindian communities in Region Nine from June 22 to 24, to oversee the distribution of school uniform materials and to generally listen to residents’ concerns.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai hands over school uniform materials to Toshao of Parikwarinau John Daniels. Also in photo are toshaos and CDOs of other communities in Region Nine
Minister Sukhai and Permanent Secretary of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry Collin Croal visited communities, including St Ignatius, Kumu, Moco Moco and Nappi, where the uniform materials were handed over to head teachers and, in some cases, the villages’ respective toshaos.
Minister Sukhai, in her address to hundreds of residents and students gathered at the various schools for the launch of the programme, informed them that development is a long process, but in Guyana it has been happening consistently as government continues to invest in all sectors, thus creating a better country for its people.
“Over the years, more and more Amerindians are being trained in various fields, such as education, agriculture and health; and as a government, investment in our human resources has always been paramount in our priorities,” Minister Sukhai said. These investments, Minister Sukhai said, start with the nation’s children, who are the future of this country.
“There should be no excuse for children to stay at home or parents to make excuse that their children don’t have a uniform or cannot afford a snack, particularly at the nursery and primary levels,” Minister Sukhai said.
Students from the nursery, primary and secondary levels are now benefiting from the uniform assistance, which this year will cost Gy$300 million to outfit about 200,000 children.
Of that sum, Gy$63.2 million has been spent on materials for children in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, and will benefit over 30,000 students.
In the hinterland and Amerindian areas, 3,585 nursery level children will benefit from this initiative, 19,993 primary level children and 6,502 secondary level children will also benefit.
