PM announces $32M back to school school assistance
Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt announced a $32.25 million back-to-school assistance to be paid through the district grants and assured that the Samoa National Provident Fund will announce a payout later in the week.
Speaking at the Teacher's Conference on Monday, La'aulialemalietoa said this assistance will not only benefit children, parents, guardians, and the entire Samoan population.
"The cabinet has approved that $32.25 million will be paid to everyone in Samoa, from adults to newborn babies," he said.
The payout will be conducted by district councils in each constituency, with an estimated payout of $150 per person.
The Prime Minister said this will assist everyone, as the year has just begun, and it's a time when families need financial assistance for children's schooling.
He said the assistance will depend highly on the alii and faipule of each village to provide accurate lists of all people and refer them to the district councils for the dividend to be paid out.
He said there will be another assistance from the Samoa National Provident Fund, which will be announced by the Minister of Finance later this week.
"But that assistance will only benefit the contributors, but as for this financial assistance, everyone will be included," La'aulialemalietoa said.
This special payout says the Prime Minister will be done in February once all the names of the people of each constituency are noted and referred to the district councils for disbursement.