Tuition Fee Free Policy

The HELP will enable tertiary students to get the loan directly from the government.

Prime Minister James Marape has already spoken to the MPs and governors to assist parents right across the country to pay K150 for elementary up to primary school and K500 for high school to secondary schools.

Prime Minister Marape said with HELP, the government is asking parents to partner with them.

Speaking at the cheque presentation on Thursday at the Caritas Girls Secondary School in Port Moresby, NCD Governor Powes Parkop said since its inception in 2008, NCD TVET and school-fee assistance program has relieved many disadvantaged guardians, parents and their children in tertiary institutions.

Parkop said more than K40 million has been invested in the program, benefitting over 35,000 students since.

He added that today, some 1001 students were the proud recipient of subsidy.

The program complements the National Government’s Tuition Fee Free policy.

A week long training on the District Education Implementation Committee’s roles and responsibilities saw members of the new committee, come up with recommendations on how the TFF policy can work effectively.

The group made up of District Education Managers, Inspectors, head Teachers, officers, women’s and church representatives from the Obura-Wonenara, Okapa and Lufa districts, said there is a lot of gaps in the TFF policy and recommended it should be reviewed.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed with the National Government on Friday (March 16) afternoon.

Education Minister Nick Kuman said New Ireland is the second province, apart from Enga, to be given these functions.

“This is because it has the capacity and prudent management systems to be able to deliver the TFF Policy at the sub-national level,” stated Kuman.