Next PPP gov’t to introduce transportation grant for students -Jagdeo

To provide greater economic relief to parents and guardians, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) intends to introduce a student transportation grant during its next term in office.

“We’ve already made university education free and other tertiary education free, we’re paying for the exams, we’re now going to assist with transportation for children through a grant in the next term so that we can remove the burden from the parents so they can get to school,” Vice President and PPP General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.

Delving into the plan a bit more, Jagdeo said this venture would be part of ongoing efforts to reduce the cost of education for families.

Additional details on this grant would be disclosed when the party launches its manifesto for the 2025 elections next month, Jagdeo said. However, he said the PPP may consider giving this transportation grant annually to help offset the cost of getting children to school.

He was keen to note that the increased investments the government has made in the education sector over the last five years is bearing fruit, evidenced by the country’s improved performance at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) this year.

“I am happy because the investments that we are making in the education sector will continue to provide our children with the opportunities to succeed in life,” he said, adding that between 2020 and 2025, approximately 3,000 more teachers have been hired.

Public investments in the education sector soared from $53 billion in 2020 to $185 billion in 2025.

This year alone, an impressive $36.2 billion was allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of educational facilities across the country. This allocation facilitates major enhancement works on nursery, primary, and secondary schools countrywide, contributing 20,000 additional spaces for students.

The Ministry has also invested heavily in developing smart classrooms in schools across Guyana, while placing renewed focus on technical and vocational education.

The children’s ‘Because we Care’ cash grant and uniform allowance – totaling $55,000 per child – was also reintroduced after it was discontinued by the former APNU+AFC government.

Additionally, the Education Ministry has expanded its national school feeding programme through which close to 90,000 students – particularly those from hinterland regions – receive breakfast and hot meals with a beverage.

Further, the government this year announced that it will cover the full cost of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam fees for up to eight subjects for every student in both public and private schools. This is in addition to a fulfilled manifesto promise of making the University of Guyana (UG) free to all Guyanese.