Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for school children

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

The Government has decided to provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 6,000 per child to help families purchase school stationery ahead of the 2025 academic year.

The initiative aimed at minimising the adverse effects of the economic crisis on education, will benefit children of families where the Aswesuma is entitled and other vulnerable groups.

The allowance will be distributed by two channels. “Students belonging to families that are entitled for Aswesuma beneficiary will receive the monthly allowance via the Welfare Benefit Board.

Children who are not entitled to the Aswasuma program, children from families with disabled parents, all children of school age in orphanages and children belonging to the categories who have become destitute due to special reasons will be managed by the Education Ministry,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday, he said a survey conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics has revealed that the school children above 55% have had a significant negative impact on education due to the adverse effects of the economic crisis. It was further revealed that this percentage is higher in rural and estate areas where 53.2% of affected children have reduced or stopped purchasing school stationary while 26.1% of the school children have resorted to reusing used school stationary.

“This initiative ensures that all children, regardless of their family’s education situation have the resources they need to succeed in school,” he said, acknowledging the effect children underwent due to the economic crisis.

To ensure the allowance is used for education purposes, he said the Government plans to introduce a digital or technology-based system tailored to diverse family needs. “We recognise that not all families have access to technology, so a new system will be designed to accommodate everyone,” Dr. Jayatissa said, promising further details soon.