THE move by the Enga provincial government (EPG) to stop subsidising school fees for Enga students starting next year must be reviewed.
Most parents depend on cash crops and their garden produce for their survival. However, the ongoing tribal fights have left many gardens, properties and homes destroyed and even families displaced.
What about those who live in remote areas where roads have deteriorated?
How can they manage to transport their produce and raise funds within a limited time?
Let’s be realistic, prices of goods and services will always raise, including school fees.
I am sure, many parents will agree with me, especially those with more than one school-going child that raising such amount within a limited time is no guarantee that all their children will return to their respective schools.
It may mean sacrificing the education of others to let one or two continue.
If there were no funds for the subsidy scheme, then one option would be for the EPG to liaise with the MPs to chip in some portion of their 2008 budget and share the burden of ensuring Engan children are educated.
I believe in investing our human resource.
Another option would be for the EPG to reduce the cost by only subsidising primary and secondary education in the province and initiate a grade point average (GPA) assessment system to appraise the tertiary level and only subsidise top students who earn good GPAs.
In that way, it will boost the morale of the students to work hard, score good grades and be among the top quality graduates.
Since the introduction of the school fee subsidy scheme by the EPG, many Engan students have benefited one way or other and many have graduated from colleges and universities.
They are now contributing to the well-being of the country. Hence, EPG should be proud of its commitment and I want to thank Governor Peter Ipatas.
The action governor has set examples and honoured most of his commitments to the people of Enga and the school fee subsidy scheme is one that most Engans have benefited.
This is the legacy of Ipatas’ leadership and the governor and his administration must maintain this.

Kips Mandau
Tabubil, WP