THOUSANDS of children may not be able to go to school this year if the Government does not subsidise their fees, shadow minister for national planning and district development Paru Aihi said yesterday.
He said many parents were facing extreme difficulties this year due to rising costs.
The increase in prices of fuel, water and electricity had added to the burden, he said.
He was responding to a Jan 18 directive by Vice-Minister for National Planning and District Development Phillip Kikala, forbidding MPs from assisting parents with school fees.
Mr Kikala said the funding that MPs had received were for the provision and maintenance of basic infrastructure such as schools, aid posts, markets, roads and bridges.