Education subsidies a waste unless managed well

THE release of almost K200 million of education subsidies is a serious cause for concern.
Such a huge chunk of money is a waste of limited resources.
The free education policy is doomed to fail.
Dishing out millions is wasteful and unsustainable.
It is almost the end of the school year. Was the mo­ney a handout to schools and institutions?
For example, SHP elementary schools received more than K4 million when many of them are “paper schools”.
There is an emerging culture where instruments of the state are often used as “fishing nets” for public funds.
There is also a public service culture where state instruments are used as stepping stones to gain political ascendancy.
The devolution of po­wers given to provincial administrators and departmental heads will soon be a death warrant for public service.
I urge John Kali to be wary of these trends.
Education should be a shared responsibility between the state and pa­rents as it will make pa­rents work instead of gambling and lazing around.
Free education will only work if it is made to be sustainable.
Schools must have the capacity and management models to manage funds.
Principals and academic staff must be confined to teaching and ensuring academic excellence.
The Chimbu and Enga provincial administration seem to have successful models.
I urge the new pro­vinces of Hela and Jiwaka to examine what works and develop its own re­sult-oriented  sustainable models.

Yapi Akore
Adelaide