With many teachers digging deep into their own pockets to get their classrooms in a learner-friendly state with teaching aides and other material, the Ministry of Education has started the distribution of special grants to assist the teachers.

Class teachers along the coastland will be provided with $4000 per child while those in the hinterland region will benefit from $5,500 per child every school term to offset the expenses to prepare and maintain their classrooms.

For schools with less than 56 students enrolled, a standard amount of $224,000 per term will be granted. All public schools will benefit from the grant.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand said “the grant is for schools and the benefit of our children”, adding that before the implementation of the School Grant, it was the responsibility of the Department of Education in each region to ensure schools received supplies.

She said that system presented challenges as each school’s needs were different, resulting in teachers having to pay out-of-pocket expenses to enhance their classrooms.

The Education Minister also noted that another challenge faced was the untimely distribution of resources to teachers.

She said after careful examination, the best solution was to give schools full autonomy to purchase their resources, which she believes empowers the Headteachers to become better managers of their schools.

“To ensure a transparent process, Minister Manickchand told the Headteachers that a list would be provided to guide teachers on their purchases. She encouraged them to utilise the grant in innovative ways”, the Education Ministry said in a statement.

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