Schools must not collect any fees: Kuman warns

Minister for Education Nick Kuman has called on all schools across the country to not impose any fees on student as a requirement for enrolment.

Kuman was responding to Okapa MP Isaac Waigavara during the Questions without Notice today in Parliament.

Waigavara asked the Education Minister to clarify the fees that were being imposed by schools which make parents confused before the beginning of the academic year.

However, Kuman in response said the Government had advice all the headmasters and principles of all the schools across the country that no fees must be collected from the students because the government is paying for all the fees.

“Every fiscal year when the government closes its finance books, we make sure that every Tuition Fee Free (TFF)are paid to the schools.”

He added that there is no reason as to why the schools administrations and boards impose project fee or any other fees to the students.

Kuman said he was so disappointed that a particular parent informed him of fees imposed by a Kilakila Secondary School in Port Moresby totaling up to K750 to be paid before enrolling their children.

He said those teachers and principals imposing such fees will be dealt with accordingly.

Kuman is appealing to all the school not to collect any fees as a prerequisite for enrolment in the academic year.

However, his response didn’t go down well with the Sinasina Yongumgl MP Kerenga Kua who asked him a supplementary question as to the timing of the payment of the TFF to the schools.

“The reality is that these fund has not being released in a timely manner forcing the school administrations to impose fees to keep the school going.

“Can you confirmed that the Government will release the TFF on time this year? Kua questioned.

However, the Minister gave his assurance that the Government has and will be giving the TFF for this year on time as it was a priority for the O’Neil-Dion Government.

Meanwhile, the academic school year starts next week.

Author: 
Freddy Mou