Budget 2025: ‘Because we care’ student grant increased to $50,000

In a move to further support families and students across Guyana, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh announced a significant increase to the “Because We Care” (BWC) Student Grant, which will now stand at $50,000 per child, benefiting over 205,000 school children.

This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to alleviate financial burdens on parents while ensuring access to quality education.

The BWC Student Grant has seen incremental increases since the current administration returned to office, growing from $10,000 in 2014 to $40,000 in 2024.

With this latest boost to $50,000, the government will place an additional $2 billion into the hands of parents, supporting both public and private school students.

In addition to the student grant, parents will also receive a $5,000 uniform voucher, bringing the total assistance to $55,000 per child.

This represents an estimated $11 billion injection into households, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting education and easing the financial burden on families.

In addition to the increased student grant, Dr. Singh revealed another groundbreaking initiative for the education sector. Following the successful write-off of student loans in 2023, which benefitted over 2,700 individuals, the government is now fulfilling its promise of offering free tertiary education.

Starting in January 2025, the University of Guyana (UG) will provide universal, tuition-free access for both current and future students. This historic move is set to benefit around 11,000 students annually, at an estimated cost of $13 billion per year.

This initiative is a continuation of the government’s long-term vision to make education accessible to all, particularly at the tertiary level, which had not been available for over 30 years.

By removing financial barriers to higher education, the government aims to empower more citizens to pursue careers in various fields, contributing to national development and a skilled workforce.

The initiative also extends to technical and vocational education. Starting in 2025, students enrolled in government technical and vocational institutions will no longer have to pay tuition fees, making quality vocational training accessible to more than 3,000 students.

This move highlights the government’s commitment to developing a well-rounded, skilled labour force capable of supporting the country’s growing economy.