Double-dollars for parents who missed book grants last year

Education Minister Hazel Manning said parents who missed out on the $1,000 book grant promised to them last year, will get both this year’s and last year’s money. Manning was speaking to Sunday Newsday during a tour of Paramin Primary RC School which will soon be rebuilt.

Speaking about the new credit card system, she said it will come on stream as promised during the first week of September. She said parents will have to go to the schools to sign the relevant documents and then go to the bank with the cards or to the 400 visa electronic swipe machines. Manning said the keep-back during the school vacation occurred as a result of lengthy negotiations. She disclosed however, there will be a security issue in which parents will have to wait about three days before they can actually withdraw the money. “This is because the banks need to put security measures in place,”she said. She said only about 70 parents did not receive the $1000 grant cheques last year. “But those who did not get it last year will get this year’s and last year’s money,” said Manning. She said the reason why they may not have received it last year was because of administrative problems.