RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Psychiatrist and Independent Senator Dr Varma Deyalsingh is warning that there could be more school dropouts if parents are not given financial assistance to send their children back to school after two years of pandemic closure.
Speaking to Guardian Media on Wednesday, Deyalsingh said every effort must be made to keep children in school, many of whom have already been suffering from depression, anxiety and stress.
Suicide has been identified as the second highest cause of death in children aged 15 to 29 in T&T.
With more than 2,000 children already dropping out of school during the pandemic, Deyalsingh said the Government needed to help parents get their children ready for school as many could not afford school supplies including uniforms.
“I believe a uniform grant should be arranged for families who apply through the school,” he said.
Deyalsingh noted that this arrangement can be organised in tandem with the School Feeding Programme as this already identifies those who may be in need.
“Many parents cannot afford to put food on their tables much less to buy uniforms which they may consider non-essential,” he said.
With the rising cost of living, Deyalsingh said basic items are increasing. He said the rising cost of fuel will also have a domino effect on the cost of living.
“There have been school dropouts during the pandemic and we need every technique to pull children back into school where they would be supervised and monitored,” he added.
Deyalsingh said some children have been subjected to abuse during the prolonged school closure.
“Our future as a nation depends on instilling in our children not just an education or trade skills but proper socialisation and tolerance to others as well trying to instil a sense of civic responsibility,” he explained.
Deyalsingh added, “The school environment can rescue a child from a toxic home or a home without the proper guidance.”
To fulfil Dr Eric Williams’ dream of the future of the nation being dependent on education, Deyalsingh said it was essential for the Government to consider such a grant.
“There is an education grant of $500 per month so either this can be increased to include uniform cost or a separate grant given,” he said.
In May last year, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said that an estimated 2,000 children appeared to have dropped out of the formal school system since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
She said the ministries of National Security and Social Development had been drafted to help in locating these students to find out the cause of their absenteeism.
Many parents, who lost their jobs over the pandemic period, became stay-at-home teachers after schools and daycares closed. There have been higher rates of homelessness as some were unable to satisfy their rental obligations.
Teenaged students have dropped out of school to take up jobs to help pay the rent, buy food, pay utilities, and even care for their younger siblings so their parents could continue working.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called repeatedly for a one-time uniform grant to be given to parents. She said parents were torn over buying food and buying uniforms, noting prices have skyrocketed because of rising shipping costs.
Box
Basic Cost of outfitting two primary school children for April/June term-
Boy- Uniforms (five shirt jacks ($56 each), five long pants ($85 each), socks ($77 for 10 pairs) five vests ($50) and shoes ($120)
Girl- Uniforms (five coveralls $150 each) five white shirts ($40 each) socks ($99 ten pairs), five vests ($50) and shoes ($120)
Two school bags- $500
Two lunch bags- $200
Stationary- $200
Note:- Note this does not include the cost of school textbooks as new books are not needed for this term in most schools
