Give vouchers rather than providing $200 for back-to-school assistance – Labasa Teacher

A teacher from Labasa is calling on the government to re-look at the $200 Back to School Assistance provided by the government to families earning a combined gross annual income of $50,000 or less and recommends that vouchers should be provided rather than cash.

While speaking at the public consultation on the review of the Education Act 1966 in Labasa, the teacher asked if this assistance was in the Education Act.

He says some parents are not using this assistance for what it was meant for.

The teacher says the government should also include what materials can be purchased with the voucher because what he sees is that some of the students whose parents receive the assistance are not turning up for their classes.

He also highlighted the need for the government to review the Bus Fare Assistance Scheme because some bus companies are charging very high fares to students who live in rural and remote areas.

The teacher says there should also be a department to monitor this assistance as it is a waste of taxpayers' money if it is not being used in the right areas.

Meanwhile, $43.1 million has been distributed by the Ministry for Finance to assist 213,520 students for this year's back-to-school support.