Register children for $10,000 school grant now – ministry

-distribution should start October 6th

The Ministry of Education is urging parents and guardians of children in public schools to register their charges immediately as it is nearing completion of a verification process held countrywide to complete a master list of students eligible for the government’s $10,000 per student grant.

Over the past two months, head teachers from across the country met with their respective regional education officers to confirm the number of students currently enrolled in their respective schools and those on the schools’ register, as part of the process, a press release from the ministry said.

According to Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration) Donna Chapman, the process is moving along smoothly and the ministry is now awaiting the final list of names of children currently starting Year One (nursery), Grade One (primary) and Grade Seven (Secondary). Chapman expects these lists to be submitted to her office and to the permanent secretary, within the new week in order to facilitate completion of the master list of students entitled to the grant.

With the administrative process currently running on schedule, the ministry plans to start distribution of the cash grant on Monday October 6. Feedback from the consultations indicated that parents preferred to receive the sum via money transfer services.

The ministry will publish other details of the disbursement, i.e. the date, time and place, in the press.

Further, the ministry advises the public that any person found perverting the process or trying to defraud the ministry would be prosecuted.