K200m for subsidies

 THE Government will pay more than K200 million into the bank accounts of schools as tuition-free fee subsidy, Finance Minister James Marape says.

Marape, who is the acting Education Minister, made the announcement while officially opening the new school year.

The Government has been paying the subsidy in the past three years since Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s government came into power.

“The Government has been giving out free education for all from Elementary to Grade 12,” he said.

“For this year’s school fees, we are now remitting K200m as first installment while awaiting all schools to furnish their acquittals for the more than K600 million paid to schools for the free school fee programme.”

“All schools must now send in their acquittals by March 31 to receive their second tranche. 

“I have been placing calls on all recipients of government funds to acquit. Likewise all head masters of schools must prepare their acquittals.

“I note that there are still many issues in education such as teacher leave fares, quality intervention programmes, school capacity problems due to increase enrollment and the compulsory education intention. 

“I commit the Government’s resolve to ensure these critical issues are resolved this year.

“We are now moving into the third and final year to abolish the OBE. 

“Next year, we should have a new education structure and curriculum in line with the Government’s compulsory education drive.

“These are some major structural changes we will be making. This will move Grade 7 and 8 to back to secondary high schools so that properly trained school teachers teach them.”