Education Dept urged to review TFF policy

National

THE Education Department is urged to review its tuition free fee (TFF) policy that creates injustice to many remote schools because they do not receive  funds on time to implement school activities.
Huon Gulf district education manager Moses Wanga said that TFF procurement mechanisms were ineffective because disbursements were delayed.
Wanga was vocal in the presence of deputy opposition leader Sam Basil at the 19th Salamaua High School graduation in front of 312 students last Friday.
Wanga urged the government to reintroduce  project fees to complement the TFF component to sustain school operations.
He said that the department needed to encourage “Read PNG” policy to ensure students read more books to help improve their English vocabulary and grammar.
“The Morobe government needs to include all provincial high schools in its annual budget,” Wanga said. The district under the leadership of MP Ross Seymour allocated K3.5 million in school infrastructural developments to cater for 109 elementary, 59 primary and Salamaua High schools and K3 million for scholarships.
In its efforts to ensure Salamaua acquired secondary status, Wanga and Salamaua president Philemon Tomala presented K450,000 for two male dormitories on behalf of Seymour and the district development authority.
A 75hp dinghy for transport was presented and  Basil pledged K8,000 to maintain the operations of dinghy.
Seymour was in Port Moresby to meet transport authorities to secure a trade certificate for mv Morobe Rainforest.
Basil said that Bulolo and Huon Gulf shared common boundaries so it was important to share some human development challenges.
Basil said 17 spaces were secured at Bulolo Technical School to cater for Huon Gulf students unable to proceed academically next year.
The Grace Memorial, Bugandi and Wawin National High Schools enrol most of the Grade 10 students at Salamaua.