No registered child will be denied ‘Because We Care’ grant – Parag

Education Minister Sonia Parag has said that no registered child will be denied their ‘Because We Care’ cash grant and assured stakeholders that any challenges, including the instances of multiple relatives showing up to collect the disbursement, will be swiftly dealt with.

“Now you do have some issues that I would consider social issues where a grandparent is showing up for a child and then you also have a mother and a father that is showing up for a child and what we have found with a few of those cases is that they are custody battles ongoing. But again, the policy of the ministry is that who the child lives with and providing for the child, that person will receive on behalf of the child,” Parag said while speaking on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday.

In such instances, the Education Ministry will work alongside the Human Services and Social Security Ministry to resolve the situation. Parag made it clear that the ministry’s standing policy is that the grant goes to whoever the child lives with and is providing for their care.

“Every child who is registered, is on the school register for 2026-2027 and those registered to start school as well as continuing school, they will not be denied their cash grant,” the minister said.

She said that the teams at the ministry for each of the 11 school districts are constantly checking and updating her about issues that arise. At this juncture, the checks have proven to work for the system and issues that arise are resolved.

“Every child that is registered would’ve gotten that cash grant over the last two days,” she affirmed.

She added, “Who the child is living with and who provides for the child, that person will receive on behalf of the child.”

The assurance comes after claims began circulating on social media suggesting some children were being excluded from the distribution. The minister said every school was checked in response and no registered child was found to have been denied.

Distribution has been underway across regions, with the minister personally observing several schools in Regions 4 and 5. The minister said the process has been structured to avoid congestion, with parents and guardians clearing distribution points within minutes.