Parents query back-to-school assistance
A LARGE number of parents and guardians lined up at the Ministry of Education’s Senikau House last Friday to enquire about the Government’s $200 education assistance.
As the deadline for the Year 13 applications closed on that day, parents lined up at the counter to apply, while some were there to \ enquire about the delay in the first batch rollout.
Sainiana Saunibose said she had filled out the assistance form before the end of last year and delivered it to her child’s school, however, she had not received it on the first rollout.
Earlier this year she decided to call the Ministry of Education and was advised that her application was not in the ministry’s database.
Single mother of three Swastika Chand questioned the reliability and efficiency of the ministry’s service as she had also applied before the end of last year, but only two of her children in primary school received the funding assistance. After contacting the ministry, Ms Chand was told to re-apply.
She said she had to make time and leave work early to attend to the matter.
Eseta Aditamana from Tamavua said she had incorrectly filled the form the first time but had re-applied and corrected the mistake. Two of her children had received assistance but was advised that her third child’s application contained an incorrect digit.
“I am tired of going back and forth,” Ms Aditamana said.
Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Education Selina Kuruleca the delay in receiving assistance meant the application was not in their database.
“It means it was not loaded up to FEMMIS as there are three verification processes,” she said.
“What’s happening is we are going out of our way to help them by reentering (their application).
“One day we received 100 calls, and 70 of them gave the wrong phone number, and from there we tried to facilitate them.”
She said they were not aware of who was at fault as verification of information could not be done as schools were closed.
When asked about those who had applied but not received the $200 assistance, Ms Kuruleca said, “If you know you have already applied, bring your children’s enrollment letter from the school to either Senikau House or your nearest education offices.”
She said while the closing date for application was December 22 for Years One through 12, they were now only updating information on those who had already applied.
Year 13 application closed on 26, January, Friday.
The second batch of assistance rollout will be on February 2.
Ms Kuruleca confirmed school would resume today.