Minister of Education Sonia Parag has reaffirmed that every child officially enrolled in either a public or private school for the 2026–2027 academic year will benefit from the Government of Guyana’s “Because We Care” cash grant initiative.
Addressing concerns raised by some parents and guardians, the minister stated on Tuesday that all students whose names appear on their schools’ official registers are eligible to receive the financial assistance.
She emphasised that the Ministry of Education’s records show that no qualifying student has been denied the grant.
“Our records show that every child on a school’s register has received, or is entitled to receive, the grant,” Parag said, adding that the ministry remains committed to ensuring the programme reaches every eligible student.
The minister encouraged parents or guardians who are experiencing any issues with the payment process or seeking clarification on eligibility to contact the Ministry of Education directly, noting that it is the sole agency responsible for administering the programme.
The reassurance comes as the nationwide rollout of the “Because We Care” initiative continues across schools in Guyana.
This year, each eligible student will receive a total of $85,000 in government assistance, comprising a $60,000 Because We Care grant, a $5,000 school uniform grant, and a newly introduced $20,000 transportation grant to ease the financial burden on families.
According to the government, approximately 206,000 students enrolled in public and private educational institutions are expected to benefit from the programme in the 2026–2027 school year.
The expanded initiative is projected to inject an additional $2 billion into households nationwide, raising the programme’s overall value to approximately $12.4 billion.
Originally reinstated by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration in 2020, the Because We Care programme has grown significantly through annual increases in financial support and the introduction of further education-related benefits.
The initiative aims to help parents and guardians manage back-to-school expenses, including transport, uniforms, stationery, and other essential school supplies, while promoting greater access to education across Guyana.
The distribution of the grants commenced on Monday and is continuing at schools across the country, in line with schedules issued by the Ministry of Education.