Families earning a combined income of less than $50,000 qualify for the education support.
I believe those who are genuinely poor should be assisted.
Most people who have income between $30,000 to $50,000, and even some below $30,000, have houses, cars etc.
Does the Minister for Finance believe people in this income bracket are unable or can’t afford to buy uniforms, etc for their children?
The minister and students in his generation were not educated through Government handouts but through the blood, sweat, tears and hard work of their parents.
As reported in the past, people use such kind of government assistance to buy kava, alcohol, etc.
Government will be saving millions of dollars if it supports only those who are genuinely poor.
The amount saved can be used for infrastructure developments, etc.
Secondly, by giving such assistance, Government is encouraging the dependency syndrome, hands-out and entitlement mentality instead of “hands up mentality”.
If the support is subsequently stopped, people will start complaining as if they are entitled to it as currently happening on welfare and bus fare issues, not realising it is a government assistance and government has the right to review, stop, etc such assistance.
One man said Fiji was becoming a welfare state, which kills hard work, initiative, responsibility, etc; people relying on government and others for support.
Feedback: letters@fijisun.com.fj