13 Institutions to Benefit from National Budget School Tour

Students at 13 institutions are poised to benefit from the 2024 National Budget Secondary School Tour, which runs from April 9 to 30.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the tour aims to sensitise students about the national Budget and the Ministry’s role and function.

Addressing Tuesday’s (April 9) launch at St. Catherine High School, State Minister, Hon. Zavia Mayne, urged students to embrace the information shared.

“The Budget is for everyone. It is imperative that you understand the time, the effort and the stewardship that goes into ensuring that taxpayers’ money is wisely… and efficiently spent,” he said.

Each student was presented with a copy of The Citizens’ Guide to the 2024/25 Budget, which details the budget process, outlines the sources of funding as well as allocations for each Ministry.

In endorsing the tour, Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, noted that students are beneficiaries of a large percentage of the Budget, and underscored the importance of their being knowledgeable about the process.

“As you read The Citizens’ Guide, as you take a look at what’s in there, you should see yourself in it, because approximately one-fifth of the non-debt expenditure portion of the Budget goes towards providing for the education of all of you,” Mrs. Williams said.

Student, Audrea Pilarchie, said the session was informative and she is now aware of the various projects and infrastructure developments the Government plans to finance during the fiscal year.

“I have a better understanding of the importance of budgeting, and this can also be applied to our personal budgets,” the sixth-former said.

Another student, Adonio Palmer, shared that the tour reinforced information he has learnt in business classes.

“Budgeting is very important, as it provides an estimated amount of finances for the Government to use to ensure that Jamaica runs properly,” he said.

The tour is being held under the theme ‘The National Budget is Everybody’s Business because it Impacts every Jamaican’.

It will continue at Waterford High and Cumberland High on April 11; Bridgeport High and Greater Portmore High, April 12; Haile Selassie High and Norman Manley High, April 16; Ascot High, April 18; Jonathan Grant High and José Martí Technical High, April 19; and Eltham High and Spanish Town High, April 30.