As Trinidad and Tobago schools prepare to reopen tomorrow, parents are voicing mounting frustration over the status of the government’s book grant, a key source of funding for school supplies. The grant is intended to cover books, stationery, uniforms and other necessities for the new term. Many families, including single mothers, have counted on the assistance to keep costs manageable. One parent said, “I’m a single mother and I was really depending on the book grant. All we want is for MOE to let us know if we were approved or not.”
Parents are demanding the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath provide clear information on pending applications, including how to confirm status and when payments will be released. The MOE has acknowledged that processing thousands of applications takes time, but parents argue that the lack of communication leaves them in limbo on the eve of the school term.
Uncertainty forces families to decide whether to borrow money, postpone purchases or send children to school without essential supplies. Those whose applications have not been finalized may face a difficult start to the term.
The mounting complaints are putting additional pressure on the MOE to explain the situation publicly and deliver a definitive timeline for outstanding applications. Parents hope for answers before the new term begins.
