THE MINISTRY of Education says it has now honoured its financial obligations to the island's schools at a cost of $731 million financed from its budget.
All primary, primary and junior high, all-age and infant schools have received their regular and feeding grants, which were disbursed through the regional education offices, the Ministry said in a press release.
Senator Anthony Johnson, Opposition spokesman on education, had called upon the Ministry, in a release, to explain the reasons for the delay in making payments to the primary schools which were without the funds at the start of the new school term. Traditionally schools got their allocations prior to the start of the term.
However, the Ministry said the funds were disbursed two weeks ago, allowing the schools to operate.
ABSORB THE DIFFERENCE
The Ministry's commitment to absorb the difference in school fees for some 108 high schools, which was paid during last term, amounted to $84 million.
Additionally, closure of some high schools islandwide was averted with the release of the funds last week representing the Government's obligation to the school fee and textbook assistance programme.
The disbursement of funds, totalling more than $500 million, began last week and is to be completed by the end of the month.
The Ministry has also spent over $57 million to honour its commitment to pay for four of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects, which includes English and mathematics, that students will be sitting in the May/June examinations this year. This is to benefit some 22,000 students.
"There is not one secondary school student, having satisfied the relevant criteria, who could say he or she is unable to sit his CXC exams because the Government through the Ministry of Education did not give the assistance it had guaranteed," the statement said.
In the meantime the Ministry has renewed its commitment to ensure the island's schools continue to operate, promising to continue its "day-to-day management of the system to ensure viability, efficiency and effectiveness."
