Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is confident to return after the elections and form a new government.
He made this known during the ground breaking ceremony of the new Apenda Provincial High School in his electorate.
He said this new government will continue its free education and free health care policies.
“The People’s National Congress Party-led government is fully committed to our Tuition Fee Free Education Policy and to building education from the grass-roots up,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our government will continue to invest in education through all provinces in the country, and Apenda High School is no different as it is the future of our children.
“Free education, alongside universal healthcare, will continue after the 2017 National Elections as we are confident we will be returned to form Government in August.
“Our government will make sure we remove the burden on parents and continue with free education.
“People campaigning against our Government want to get rid of free education and get rid of free healthcare, and this will only hurt our people.
“Education and healthcare should not be used to play politics like our opponents are trying.
“I want to warn you, the people of our nation, that the first thing a different government will do after the 2017 national election is to make you pay for schooling.
“A different Government will abandon Tuition Fee Free Education and this will place the burden back on every family in our country.
“I challenge the parties not committed to education to think twice as the people have given the People’s National Congress their support for free education.
“If our opponents have their way, free education will be gone and our children will not have a bright future.”
The Prime Minister commended the people and community leaders of Apenda, and the Ialibu-Pangia District, for investing in education using District Services Improvement Program funding to build new and maintain existing schools in the District
Another K500,000 in DSIP funding was committed for the new Apenda Provincial High School.
The Southern Highlands Provincial Government also made counterpart funding of K600,000 to upgrade the existing Apenda Primary school into the New Apenda Provincial High School.
PM O’Neill was accompanied by Southern Highlands Governor, William Powi , and Member for Mendi, Dei Kewanu.