The Opposition United National Congress, is calling for the reintroduction of the laptop programme.
Opposition leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in a release last evening, said she would like to see the programme returned in this year’s budget, for the benefit of all Form One students.
She also wants free student transport to schools in all areas and the reintroduction of the annual school grant, to be fixed at a cost of $1500 for primary school students and $2000 for secondary school students and to be offered to any child in need of assistance.
Persad-Bissessar said, “Recently we saw that thousands of our children were lost from the school system during Covid due to not having computers to access online learning. The Government sat idly by, relying on donations from the private sector to meet this need after cancelling the UNC’s laptop programme, which had previously ensured that every child had access to a computer at home and school.”
She added, “Hardworking parents continue to struggle to pay for uniforms, textbooks, photocopies, and stationary supplies and as such, I call on the government to reintroduce the annual school grant.”
“Many students are struggling to attend school because of the increased cost of transportation triggered by the removal of the fuel subsidy. The free transport programme is therefore essential to ensure the attendance, safety, and security of our nation’s children, the UNC leader noted.
Persad-Bissessar said the government must act to ensure that no child is left behind.