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And while many schoolchildren will have to face social pressure returning to schools, their parents are under economic pressure to pay for books, uniforms, tuition and fees. Many times families who need help have to turn to their area representatives, who then go to the Minister of Education.
School reopens in September - so we asked him what the pressure is like right now:
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"What is the pressure on you from your colleagues, both PUP and UDP, for the assistance towards the new school year?"
"Yeah. I mean, you know, every year there's, of course, you know, a tremendous need, families need support. but the good news is that the Ministry of Education is providing unprecedented support to our families and students across the country. We're trying to assist, have established several new programs. The Rural Education Grant fund, for example, is a one very good program that is impacting the lives of families and communities in rural areas."
"And of course, we provide support to all of the representatives. And everybody gets equal share and equal share. again, unprecedented. before we were getting a pittance under the previous government. Now we are making sure that we provide strong, important support to all of our representatives, regardless of their political party."
