Delay in fee affecting school’s ops

THE delay in government’s subsidy reaching school accounts is affecting the operations of some schools, an official says.
Cameron Secondary School acting principal Shirley Apaio told The National that the Milne Bay school had sent its boarding students to stay with relatives while attending classes as there was not enough food rations.
Apaio said funds had not reached the school and were forced to take the measures.
However, Education Minister Jimmy Uguro announced on Wednesday that K58 million had been remitted to the bank accounts of secondary, national high and vocational schools as well as the flexible, open and distance education (Fode) programme last week.
Apaio said the school was keeping only 30 students who were from islands further away and did not have relatives nearby.
She said they have a total of 300 boarding students but most were sent away to live with relatives in town.
Apaio said the school had used up the parental component of the fees paid for the school’s other operational costs.
She said this was the first time the school had been forced send students away.
Apaio said the Government tuition fee subsidy funds has been released but it was in the provincial trust account and would take some time to be released to the schools in the province.
She said as soon as the school received its share, they would allow the boarding students to return to school.
Apaio thanked the people and business houses in Alotau who had helped the secondary school with food ration.
She said Cameron Secondary School had more than 900 students.