A single mother of six from Nadroga has been forced to send her children to school without proper uniforms and supplies after failing to receive the government’s $200 Back-to-School Assistance, despite applying when the scheme opened last November.
The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, is unemployed and raising her children alone.
She told fijivillage News that only two of her six children are currently attending Malomalo Primary School, her youngest son in Class 4 and her daughter in Class 8, but both began the school year without a complete set of essential items.
She says the assistance was meant to cover basic necessities such as uniforms, sandals, and lunch boxes, items she has been unable to fully afford on her own.
Despite the challenges, she says she encouraged her children to attend school so they would not miss out on lessons.
However, she says the emotional toll on her children has been difficult to ignore.
She says her children went to school without proper school preparations and that she knows they must feel sad seeing other students fully prepared with their school supplies.
She also described struggling even to prepare meals for her children.
She says she had to use an ice-cream container to pack their food.
She says officials from the Ministry of Education had assured her and other parents last week that payments would be made this week.
She says that last Friday, ministry staff recorded the names of her two children and told her the assistance would be paid out soon.
She adds that she is not alone, saying several parents she knows are still waiting for their assistance while their children attend school unprepared.
Questions have been sent to the Ministry of Education.
They are yet to respond.
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