Payments for the $200 Back-to-School Assistance will begin this afternoon, and will continue throughout the weekend.

Students in Year 12 and Year 13 will receive their payments once enrollments for the 2026 school year are verified.

A total of 204,872 applications have been received so far, with around 185,000 students expected to be paid in the first batch, amounting to an estimated payout of $37 million.

However, about 10,000 applications remain under verification due to incomplete or incorrect information.

Parents or guardians who do not receive the payment by Monday next week are advised to seek assistance through the Ministry of Education District Offices or the Help Desk at Waisomo House.

Help Desk contact numbers are 3220551, 3314477, 9980079 and 9986069.

Parents are being encouraged to use the assistance strictly for educational purposes, as the Government continues to monitor prices and will take action against any price gouging.

The Government says it remains committed to supporting families and ensuring a smooth start to the 2026 school year for students nationwide.