Bolivia: President Hands Out School Dropout Vouchers
President Luis Arce during his visit in the EL Alto School, Oct 14, 2024 Photo: @vision360_bo
October 14, 2024 Hour: 2:04 pm
In a televised address to the entire country, Arce stressed that this incentive, whose objective is to prevent students from dropping out of school, has been distributed uninterruptedly for 18 years.
On Monday, the president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, began in the city of El Alto the payment of the Bono Juancito Pinto against school dropouts, which this year benefits two million 340 thousand students.
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‘Today, from the combative city of El Alto and simultaneously throughout the country, we begin the payment of the Bono Juancito Pinto in favor of our students,’ the dignitary wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter).
In a televised address to the entire country, Arce stressed that this incentive, whose objective is to prevent students from dropping out of school, has been distributed uninterruptedly for 18 years.
He stressed that, in contrast to the criticisms of some opposition politicians, this fact demonstrates that the objective of redistributing national income to the neediest sectors in order to reduce the economic gaps in society is being met.
Arce insisted that Bolivia’s children need quality education, and argued that this process begins in primary school.
The 200 Bolivianos (almost US$30) social benefit is paid according to a schedule defined by identity card number.
As reported, from October 14 to 20, holders with endings one and two will be paid; from October 21 to 27 with endings three and four; from October 28 to November 3 with endings five and six; from November 4 to 10 with endings seven and eight; from November 11 to 17 with nine and zero.
Latecomers will receive it from 18 to 30 November without restriction, according to the Ministry of Education.
The only requirement for payment is the identity card of the father, mother, guardian or tutor, plus a simple photocopy.
The parents are registered as the beneficiaries, while the students are registered as beneficiaries, but are not entitled to collect.
It was reported that 56 financial entities in Bolivia are still authorized to collect the school incentive, including banks and cooperatives in city capitals, peri-urban and rural areas.
In remote and hard-to-reach communities, where there is no presence of financial institutions, Banco Unión brigades will be deployed with the support of the armed forces.
The payment of the incentive to stay in school has the contribution of 25 state entities, which guaranteed the disbursement of 477.55 million bolivianos (close to 70 million dollars) based on their profits.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: The Independent-The Star
