Minister: Schools should not charge fees for enrolment

By REBECCA KUKU
ALL students are to be enrolled for free at all Government schools, Education Minister Nick Kuman says.
Kuman said all schools registered under the Education Department must confer to and implement the Government’s tuition fee-free (TFF) policy.
He was responding to East New Britain Governor Nakikus Konga in Parliament who said the provincial education board would be charging school fees as the Government still owed schools in the province K11 million in TFF funds.
Kuman said the Government did not owe any schools funds because the TFF funds from 2012 to 2017 were all paid directly to the schools.
“I know some schools are using project fees as compulsory for enrolling students which shouldn’t be happening,” he said.
“Since 2012 to 2017, all TFF payments have been made. At the end of the year all the money is paid directly to the schools. So schools should not be charging students any fees, including project fees.”
Kuman agreed with Nakikus that all schools must provide acquittals for the TFF funds.