The Ministry of

Education, Youth and Information expects a smooth start to the upcoming

academic year 2019/2020 on Monday, September 2.

At the ministry’s

annual back-to-school press conference, held at its National Heroes Circle

office, on Thursday, Karl Samuda, who has responsibility for the ministry, said

that millions have been invested in various aspects of the education sector for

schools and students to benefit.

“As part of our

general preparations, we have undertaken a number of things… selected schools

are being renovated [and] all is being done to meet the great demand that is

placed on us at this time,” Samuda said.

Some of the payments

from the ministry towards activities for the new school year include full

funding for temporary and part-time teachers, payment for 18 temporary deans of

discipline, $327 million for the payment of 1,093 school cooks in primary

schools, $100 million for the upgrading of school canteens and provision of

equipment, and $661 million for 126 schools under the 2019-2020 Critical

Repairs Programme.

Another $120 million

was provided for the PATH (Programme of Advancement Through Health and

Education) students’ literature books at the secondary level, $26 million for

the insurance of PATH students and wards of the State, a contribution of $380

million to the transportation programme of schools in eight parishes, and book

vouchers for the neediest of students to purchase school supplies. Additionally,

the ministry has spent $800 million on books for students under the National

Textbook Loan Scheme and the Primary Textbook Programme.