The Fee Free Tuition Grant (FFTG) or free education initiative is paying dividends.
It has not only provided relief to parents but has encouraged students who had dropped out to re-enrol.
The initiative has seen 215 drop-outs re-enrolling including a mother of three.
Among other benefits is a decline in the number of non-attendance.
The Education Ministry, which was allocated close to one fifth of the total 2014 national budget at $370 million, in its initial assessment has identified a number of positives topped off by students re-entering the education system.
Ministry of Education deputy secretary, Mrs Basundra Kumar, said the Ministry had given schools a breakdown of how the grant was to be utilised and this has greatly enhanced the learning experience of students.
“The grant has seen that not only are schools meeting their commitments such as bills and payments but they are also providing better equipments thus creating a more conducive environment to teach and learn in,” she said.
Another encouraging result of free education has been the reduction in absenteeism in schools, which had in the past affected the academic performance of students.
Some of areas where the grant is to be channelled into include building and compound maintenance, IT, computers and vocational materials, library and textbooks, physical education (P.E.), arts, music and science equipment, and stationery levy.
“The FFTG initiative has allowed schools to nurture quality and excellence in education as the platform towards the enhancement of Ministry and Government short and long term goals,” Mrs Kumar said.
The grant is given to 902 secondary and primary schools throughout the country and has helped 233,363 students with close to $35m already disbursed.
In its assessment, the Ministry found the benefit of FFTG as:
- Students who have left school have re-enrolled
- Improved attendance
- Parents have equipped the students well for school
- Increased school rolls
- Night prep commenced
- Students being punctual
- Timely purchases of resources and equipment
- OHS compliant and hygienic facilities and infrastructure
- No more borrowing of equipment from other schools
- Well-equipped labs
- Realization of dream towards modern technology
Government has assisted students whose parents earn $15,000 or less per annum through the free bus fare scheme with 91,249 currently benefiting from this.
A similar programme called the transport subsidy scheme is targeted at students living in rural or maritime communities with over 22,732 beneficiaries.
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