NEATS scheme already a big winner for schoolkids
The five dollar a day incentive
scheme for students to stay at school is already having a profound
effect on truancy rates according to teachers and school
officials.
The Waqa Government has implemented a ground breaking trust fund
for the island's school students who will receive five dollars per
day for every day they attend school, ranging from pre-schoolers to
grade 12.
Nauru's Minister for Education Charmaine Scotty says the Nauru
Education Assistance Trust Scheme (NEATS) - available to Nauruan
and refugee students - is already showing its worth with a sizeable
reduction in truancy since the initiative was rubber stamped by
Parliament earlier this month.
"Every day the children come to school they're investing in their
future with the allowance they receive, because it's not given to
them on a daily basis but put into a trust fund which they can
access when they leave school."
Minister Scotty says responsible spending will be monitored with
the saved money being used for beneficial purposes, such as
starting a business or buying a home.
"So far, the scheme is working brilliantly with kids wanting to
attend school and knowing there is a real benefit to staying at
school and receiving a vital education."
Principal Richard Lewis from Nauru Secondary School (NSS) is
confident the scheme will be a big winner, saying the government
and Minister Scotty must be commended for their proactive stance in
curbing the scourge of truancy.
"Kids at NSS are very excited by this and the big benefit really
is the education they will receive by staying at school. The money
at the end is a nice bonus."