(JamaicaObserver)MONTEGO BAY, St James – Almost 3,000 students heading back to school within St James in September will benefit from $17 million in support from the local municipal corporation.
On Wednesday, the parents and guardians of more than 500 of these students assembled at Montego Bay Civic Centre to receive vouchers that can be used to purchase school supplies. It was the first of six gatherings planned over the next seven days. Vouchers will be provided for students from across the parish’s 17 electoral divisions. Each division has been allocated $1 million, about the same as those provided last year during the corporation’s Annual Back-to-School and Education Support Presentation.
“The St James Municipal Corporation has dedicated approximately $17 million dollars, with the help of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development towards educational grants for this year,” Deputy Mayor Richard Vernon told the Jamaica Observer.
“Even the divisions without councillors are properly represented by the citizens’ associations. They reached out to us, asking for assistance for the youngsters in the different communities, and they’ve received assistance,” he said.
According to Vernon, the support provided to students is an indicator of the local authority’s ongoing commitment to education.
“This has marked approximately $80 million dollars in the last five years towards educational grants,” he said.
There has also been support provided to youngsters through the summer employment programme.
