The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 1,400 people in New Providence and Grand Bahama have sought government assistance to buy school uniforms ahead of the new academic year, with Social Services Minister Barbara Cartwright saying demand for the programme has increased.

Officials said 1,409 people have applied for assistance across the two islands, although they did not provide The Tribune with figures from last year, making it impossible to determine the size of the increase.

The applications come after the Davis administration increased school uniform assistance by $50 per child this year, raising the maximum benefit for high school students to $230.

Mrs Cartwright said the previous benefit was not sufficient to cover enough uniforms for some children.

“Originally, the assistance was only able to cover a certain amount of school uniforms,” she said, “and so that's hence the reason for the increase, and we have seen an uptick.”

Mrs Cartwright said the ministry was pleased to help families who need help preparing children for the new term.

“At least,” she said, “there won't be an excuse why your child cannot go to school.”

The administration announced last month that assistance would increase at all three levels of the School Uniform Assistance Programme.

Pre-school assistance rose from $120 to $170, while assistance for primary and junior school students increased from $150 to $200. High school assistance increased from $180 to $230.

The programme is available to families with children attending government schools who do not have sufficient income to purchase uniforms and footwear, as well as families whose children attend private schools on scholarships.

Families affected by hurricanes, flooding, fires or other qualifying disasters may also be eligible. Approved applicants receive assistance through gift cards issued using the Ministry of Social Services’ Digital Wallet platform, which can be used at authorised uniform and footwear retailers.

The assistance is available once during each academic year.

The programme has operated for years as part of the Department of Social Services’ wider assistance system. During the height of the COVID-19 economic crisis, the Auditor General recorded $23,615 in spending on school uniform assistance in June 2020, compared with $3,416 in June 2019.

Mrs Cartwright said this year’s increased benefit was intended to ensure the programme better reflects the amount families need to outfit their children for school.