Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information oversees education funding from pre-primary to tertiary levels. It manages the allocation of resources and provides administrative and financial support to all public education institutions.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
No information was found on funding mechanisms that allocate resources to subnational governments with a focus on equity.
2. Education resources to schools
The 2006 Education Act states that public schools are funded through various sources. Primary schools receive grants from the Ministry, while secondary schools are funded by money allocated by Parliament. Schools can also access funds or property managed by their boards, raise money through fundraising activities, and receive donations, gifts, or other contributions.
A pilot programme was launched where the Fair Hall Government School was equipped with the necessary equipment and retrofitting to integrate differently abled children into the school. These students are able to participate fully in school activities up to grade 8, where they will then be assigned to other mainstream educational institutions. Children are also able to enter other schools based on their performance in national placement exams. Additional support is available to the differently abled students to ensure that they are well integrated. The programme has shown initial success, and the Ministry of Education hopes to equip more schools in the near future to also accept differently abled students.
3. Education resources to students and families
The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information has implemented a “One tablet per Child” initiative, where laptops and tablets were distributed to all students in primary and secondary schools to assist with school work and build ICT capacities. Partnerships with telecommunications companies were also developed to provide low-cost and in some cases, free internet to students' homes.
The Book Loan Programme provides students with textbooks on loan for the school year, at a minimal cost.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
The Family Services Division, part of the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs and Persons with Disabilities, focuses on promoting equity within families, protecting the rights of children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, and supporting the socio-economic development of all family members. However, there is no programme within this division that provides direct educational support or transfers resources specifically to disadvantaged students or households. The Government provides avenues for indigent persons to obtain financial assistance to acquire school supplies on a case-by-case basis.
The Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF), established the ZHTF in 2016, following ACT No. 2 of Parliament, for the purpose of eliminating hunger in the state has lunched the “Adopt a Classroom” programme as an annual school-based programme that is designed to alleviate poverty and improve the standard of living of primary school children, by covering several costs associated with the participation of students in school. There are currently twelve (12) schools on the programme.
The Ministry of National Mobilisation provides uniform and textbook assistance, as well as social and financial support for needy pupils. This includes tuition payments and child allowances through social welfare.
5. School meal programmes
The School Feeding Programme began in 1984 with support from the World Food Programme. In 1997, the Government established the Nutrition Support Programme, which is now fully government-funded and operates in 132 educational institutions. Its mission is to promote food security and good nutrition among nutritionally vulnerable groups, particularly disadvantaged pre-primary and primary students at risk of malnutrition. While the programme initially targeted students from low socio-economic backgrounds, it is now open to any student who wishes to enrol.
Additionally, the ZHTF has highlighted the most vulnerable population in the areas of poverty and hunger, after considering the Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) and provides financial resources to the school feeding programme.
