Around 185,000 students will be paid in the first batch this afternoon as the Ministry of Finance begins rolling out the $200 Back-to-School Assistance for the 2026 school year.
The Ministry of Finance says the total payout is around $37 million.
The Ministry says the payments will continue over the weekend following a thorough vetting and verification process.
The Ministry say they received a total of 204,872 applications for the assistance, and about 10,000 applications are still under verification due to incomplete or incorrect information provided.
They say students progressing from Year 12 to Year 13 will receive their payments once their enrolment for the 2026 academic year is confirmed.
They say the Ministry of Education, together with respective schools, will work closely with parents and guardians to rectify outstanding issues and ensure every eligible child receives the $200 assistance.
Parents and guardians who do not receive the payment by next Monday are encouraged to seek assistance through the Ministry of Education District Offices or via the Help Desk at Waisomo House.
They are urged to also contact the Help Desk on 3220551, 3314477, 9980079 or 9986069.
The Ministry is also urging parents and guardians to use the assistance wisely towards their children’s education needs.
