The Labour Party Government has over the past 15 years assisted less fortunate students across the island through the National School Assistance Programme.
After taking up office in 2001, the DLP Administration took the programme a giant step further and implemented other costly components such as the School Transfer Grant, the School Transportation System and by providing uniform allowance to parents who may not be able to afford uniforms for their students to attend school.
Another major component has been Government’s continuing investment in the National Textbook Scheme for secondary school students.
Through this programme, parents who are unable to afford textbooks can do so while scholars and bursars are provided for.
Each year at this time, parents and students islandwide visit the Ministry of Education building in Bath Estate to exchange text books for the new school term at no cost to parents.
GIS News sat down with Stores Clerk, Eric Frampton.
“I don’t think there are any programmes like this anymore and this is one of the best programmes. There is a number of people all over the country who are in need of. Yes, there are some people who take advantage but you cannot think of those people; you have to think about the people who are really in need.
“Some people from the community will call in and ask for us to help some people and they leave names; we really look forward to helping those people. We help everybody but these people, we assist them a bit further.
According to Frampton, in the previous year, Government provided textbooks for over 2,500 students.
“I would like the people being assisted to take care of the books and return them when they are due so that others can receive them,” Frampton appealed.
Those who have not returned books and have finished secondary school may not receive their CXC results with outstanding books.
Another challenge is that the books are often sold.
“Discontinue this practice,” Frampton appealed, “and let’s get along because it is one to help the other.”
Meantime, mother of two secondary school students, Belinda Charles is thankful for Government’s assistance through this programme.
She told GIS News, “I’ve benefitted very much because the books are very expensive and right now the Government is helping me a lot so I can focus on something else besides books, maybe uniforms, school fees.
“I think Government is working. They care,” she said with a smile. “It used to be difficult to even get your child to go to high school but with this Government, we are getting assistance; we are sending our children to high school to get a proper education. That says that Government is working.”
Janella Paul will enter 4th form at the Portsmouth Secondary School when the new school year begins in September.
“The money which my parents would have to spend on the books will be spent on something else for me lie uniform and school shoes.
“Getting the books from here is not a shame,” she adds.
The Dominica Labour Party Government is committed to supporting the nation’s youth particularly in the education- believing that every child has the right to education as well as the tools to help them become successful learners.
This is evident through several safety net programmes aimed at ensuring that all students have equal access to a well-balanced and high quality of education.
Students have until August 19th to exchange books at the facility in Bath Estate.