The Ministry of Education recently revealed that 9,800 data-related issues have surfaced during the processing of the $200 Back-to-School assistance program, causing significant delays in payments to families. Education Minister Aseri Radrodro explained that these delays stem from incorrect or incomplete information provided by parents at the school level, and not from any lapse in diligence on the part of officials.
Among the 9,800 problematic applications, the Ministry has successfully verified and cleared 5,507 cases, which have been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for payment. The issues have been addressed systematically, with significant progress made: 3,811 applications that had multiple names linked to a single phone number have been resolved, 352 problems connected to private school issues corrected, 91 erroneous phone numbers rectified, and 237 overlooked missed payments identified and returned for processing.
In response to the high volume of errors, Ministry teams have also manually corrected 1,142 applications with inaccurate or incomplete details, along with processing 1,016 additional manual entries submitted to the headquarters. Minister Radrodro noted that the Ministry of Finance solely manages the payment processing, which can only begin after a thorough verification of the applications.
A notable challenge that persists is the difficulty in reaching parents for verification purposes. Radrodro pointed out that many delays are due to parents not answering calls or using diverted numbers, which hinders the verification process conducted by the helpdesk.
On a positive note, the Ministry confirmed that Batch 2, comprising over 1,000 applications, has been successfully paid out. Efforts to resolve the remaining cases are ongoing, with work continuing throughout the week. The Minister emphasized the critical role of accurate data submission at the outset, stating, “Accuracy at the school gate is essential to ensure families receive their assistance on time.”
This incident underscores the vital need for families to submit precise information which can greatly enhance the efficiency of the assistance process. The proactive approach taken by the Ministry to tackle the backlog demonstrates a commitment to improving service delivery, ensuring that families receive the necessary support as they gear up for the school year. The optimism surrounding the completion of remaining applications reflects the Ministry’s determination to fulfill its promise to support every child in the education system.