The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) distributed education kits on August 30, to children registered under the Migrant Registration Framework who have been accepted into local schools for the 2024-25 school year.
Seventeen refugee children who will study at Trinidad and Tobago schools for the first time and seven local children were given kits.
UNHCR said the kits contained book bags, books, writing materials, uniforms, shoes and other essential tools to support the children’s academic journeys.
On August 19, the Ministry of Education held a ceremony to present the parents of Venezuelan children with migrant student exemption letters.
At that ceremony, Chief Education Officer Dr Peter Smith said applications were made on behalf of 187 Venezuelan children, and after interviews, 111 children were successful and 23 were permitted to attend school in the new academic year.
Four will be placed at government schools, 18 at denominational schools and one will attend a private school.
The initiative was supported by UNICEF and the Catholic Education Board of Management.
Amanda Solano, UNHCR head of office in TT, suggested the children were making history and pointed out this will be the first time in a classroom for some of the children.
“This event marks a crucial step towards providing equal opportunities for all children.”
She spoke about the importance of education to migrant children in particular.
“Education is a crucial pathway to self-reliance. For many refugees and migrants in Trinidad and Tobago, their education has been interrupted for months or even years. On average, UNHCR estimates that globally, refugees miss out on three to four years of schooling because of forced displacement.”
Solano said the physical classroom experience is important to their overall development.
“In addition to being a place of academic learning, schools provide children with core social skills, emotional support, and a nurturing environment for their well-being. For refugees, the opportunity to enter a school environment gives students the tools necessary for overall development and serves as a strong step toward their social and cultural inclusion, helping them learn, make friends, and find hope.”
[caption id="attachment_1105802" align="alignnone" width="1024"] US Ambassador Candace Bond, second from right, and UNHCR officials with migrant children at an education kit distribution ceremony at NALIS, Port of Spain, on August 30. The children are among 23 migrant students who will be able to attend school in TT from September 2. - Photo by Gabriel Williams[/caption]
She commended the government for opening the country’s classrooms and said the UNHCR remains committed to supporting the Government on its next steps on access to education to all children.
“The government’s approach ensures that refugee students can obtain recognised qualifications, opening doors to further education and employment.”
US ambassador to TT Candace Bond said the kits represented more than just a physical resource.
“The education su
