Govt honouring country’s need by paying majority of fees, says Marape

THE Government says it is honouring the country’s need for education for all through an affordable policy by paying the majority of school fees for primary and secondary schools.
Prime Minister James Marape said the Government would pay 63 per cent of the fees and parents and guardians 37 per cent.
“We are directing more national education expenditure to assist tertiary students with continuation of student scholarships as well as our Marape-government’s flagship student loan (Help) programme,” he said.
“We also allocated funding for school infrastructure directly through our universities and colleges as well as through districts and provincial services improvement programme funds.
“We are continually supporting the O’Neill-government-initiated Western Pacific University.
“We are mass rolling out flexible open distance education (Fode) plus technical and vocational education training (Tvet) with small to medium enterprises (SME) courses for those who left school at grades 8 to 12.
“We will be working on private universities to enter or set up in our country.
Meanwhile, Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra said teachers would resume duty on Monday, Jan 25 and students’ classes would start on Monday, Feb 1.
Dr Kombra said the theme for the new year was: “Promoting Access to Quality Education and Training for All”.
The theme was derived from the national education plan 2020-2029 focus area No. 2 which is access.
“I encourage all officers in the department, the Teaching Service Commission, the Office of Libraries and Archives together with schools and institutions to observe the theme in their planned activities,” Dr Kombra said.