K100million for education subsidy: PM

PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare has defended his Government’s K100 million school fee announcement, describing it as a fee subsidy and not “free education”.
He said in a statement yesterday that critics of the announcement by the Government should not mislead the public by referring to this allocation as a “free education” election promise.
Since Sir Michael announced this assistance, the Government had been roundly criticised for offering “free education” for votes in an election year.
The latest critic was Archbishop Sir Brian Barnes, who in his Easter message said there was lack of honesty in the pre-election promotion of free education.
But the Prime Minister said this was not a “free education” promise.
“Papua New Guinea does not have the money to provide free education for all. Our economic conditions cannot warrant that and we, as a responsible Government, recognise this. The best that we can do is to help with a subsidy for school fees.
“Critics should not mislead the people by referring to this allocation as free education. It is not free education. Parents will still be required to pay the basic fees, which are their responsibility.”
“The Prime Minister said the K100 million allocation is from the windfall gains and this money had been set aside to help parents pay part of their children’s school fees.