DESPITE being allocated $7.512 billion in the PNM government’s final budget on September 30, 2024, Education Minister Michael Dowlath asked the Standing Finance Committee to approve a supplemental allocation of $455,106,000 on Monday.

As he gave his introductory speech, Dowlath said this request reflected the UNC government’s ongoing commitment to responsibly address urgent financial requirements across the education sector.

He said the requested allocations sought are directly linked to critical shortfalls inherited from the then PNM government, “as a result of long-standing vacancies, unaddressed financial obligations and operational deficits accumulated over years of neglect.”