Beneficiaries of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis’ School-Based Assistance Programme can now expect faster service and greater confidentiality, thanks to the launch of a new Expression of Interest portal aimed at modernising social service delivery across the Federation.
The new platform, accessible at www.socialdevelopment.gov.kn, allows families seeking support for their children enrolled in public primary and secondary schools—as well as tertiary institutions—to submit applications in one central location. The portal supports several flagship initiatives including the School Uniform Assistance Programme, High School Book Loan Programme, CXC Fee Waiver Programme, and the Early Childhood Subvention Programme.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, Azilla Clarke, noted that the system is built using Microsoft Forms and will significantly reduce duplication of personal data while enhancing operational efficiency.
“Since we launched our national social protection strategy back in 2012, one of our goals has been to serve as the one-stop shop for all social protection programmes,” Clarke explained. “The public has expressed frustration at having to repeat their personal information multiple times. This platform enables us to act as a clearing house, collecting data once and sharing it securely where necessary.”
Applicants already receiving support under other government initiatives—including the Livelihood Improvement for Family Transformation (LIFT) Programme, Back-to-School Independence Initiative, and the Budget Boost Wallet—will benefit from prefilled applications. Once the expression of interest form is submitted online, social development officers will cross-reference the information, allowing for faster processing.
“When you come in to meet with the social assistance officers stationed at community centres around the island, you are simply confirming the information that we have for you, providing any that we do not have, and then your application is processed,” Clarke added. “Within a 14-working-day period, you will receive a response.”
The data collected through the portal will be securely shared with the Ministry of Education, which will contact families for assessment and benefit disbursement. Beyond the immediate support, the information gathered will inform long-term policy planning and extend access to a broader range of social services such as parenting workshops, financial literacy training, and counselling.
This shift to a digital-first system aligns with the government’s broader goal of building a more efficient, equitable, and inclusive social protection framework. Officials are urging the public to register early to meet upcoming programme deadlines and avoid delays in receiving benefits.
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