Education Minister, Nick Kuman, says the first batch of ‘Tuition Fee Free’ funds will be paid next week.
Kuman said in Parliament that the money was available and will pay schools beginning next week.
“By next week the first batch of TFF will be paid. I’ve got money in the central bank now, I will pay it to all the schools in the country,” he said.
Kuman has also urged all open regional members to meet any shortfalls of school in their respective jurisdictions in the case that the TFF funds were not sufficient.
He said this in response to Goroka MP, Bire Kimisopa, who asked the Minister if he could provide Parliament with evidence to suggest that the YTFF funds were adequate and that the schools should not charge project fees.
The follows Kuman’s warning to suspend Principals and School boards who charge project fees.
“Before the Minister takes a sledgehammer and goes right throughout all the schools in the country, what is the evidence on the ground per school in this country, to suggest that the project fees should not be charged. When in fact Mr Speaker, the TFF Fees are sometimes, given to the respective schools late, and also the evidence on the ground per school seems to suggest that the cost of operating the school may be much higher than the grants being prescribed for those schools themselves,” said Kimisopa.
In a heated response, Kuman said with close to 2.2 million students from elementary to grade 12 around the country and they have delivered all TFF funds since 2012.
He said funds are released based on enrolments but sometimes enrolments are late and to release the funds quickly they allocate based on an average number depending on the school.
Kuman said if there are shortfalls, the respective MP’s must meet them with the K2 million education funds in their District Support Improvement Program funds (DSIP’s)
“What are you going to do with those money that is earmarked for education every year? He asked.
“You get a DSIP of K10 million, irrespective of whether you’re in the Government side or in the Opposition side. What have you done with those money?