The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has unveiled ambitious plans to further ease the financial burden on families by increasing the education grant and introducing a transportation allowance for students, should the party secure another term in office.

Vice President and PPP General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced at a recent press conference that the proposed transportation grant is part of a comprehensive strategy to make education more accessible and affordable for all Guyanese children. The initiative is aimed at helping parents offset the costs of getting their children to school, and is expected to be issued annually. This grant will complement existing support measures such as the “Because We Care” cash grant and the school uniform allowance.

The “Because We Care” grant itself has already been increased to $50,000 per student for 2025, with an additional $5,000 uniform voucher, bringing total direct support to $55,000 per child. Over $11 billion has been allocated in the 2025 National Budget to fund these grants, benefiting more than 205,000 children nationwide. This steady increase in educational support is part of the government’s broader commitment to advancing education and supporting families across the country.

Dr. Jagdeo emphasized that the PPP/C’s education agenda goes beyond financial support. The party’s long-term vision includes free university and tertiary education, government payment of exam fees, expanded school feeding programmes, and the hiring of over 3,000 new teachers in the past five years. There are also plans to leverage artificial intelligence to personalize learning and to overhaul the curriculum for modern, accessible education.

Further details on the transportation grant and other new initiatives will be outlined in the party’s upcoming manifesto, set to be launched in July. As the election campaign intensifies, these pledges to increase the education grant and introduce a transportation allowance are poised to become defining issues for voters seeking a brighter, more equitable future for their children.