Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, says the applications for the back-to-school assistance will begin tomorrow, while the funds will be disbursed to families on 25 January.
Prof Prasad made this announcement in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka and the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, this afternoon.
“Forms will be available at schools and those families who earn a combined income of $50,000 or below, will need to fill in the form for each eligible student. Students who are receiving transport assistance will not need to fill in the entire form.”
Prof Prasad said that all families earning below $50,000 and students who do not currently receive transport assistance, will have to apply by filling in the application form with a statutory declaration of income, which has been verified and signed by the respective schools.
“Apart from the school fees, there are other areas that families need assistance.”
“School bags, shoes, stationery, books, lunch boxes, and other supplies for our children are also important. It’s not just tuition fees, it’s also these things that parents and children need.”
Prof Prasad has estimated that around 220,000 students are expected to be assisted in the back-to-school assistance programme.
