Morobe schools told not to collect outstanding fees

By JACINTA COHLEE
MOROBE education adviser Keith Tangui has urged schools not to collect outstanding school fees from the parents or to reject students because of this reason.
Tangui was responding to concerned parents regarding their children being turned away during the registration and enrolment period.
He clarified that the government tuition fees subsidy (GTFS) paid from the national government in the previous years also covered the students’ outstanding fees plus other fees excluding uniform fees.
“The Government paid the GTFS last year and all the fees are covered there, so it would be unwise to collect outstanding fees,” Tangui said.
He advised principals, managers, head teachers and teachers-in-charge to reimburse any fees apart from the uniform fees collected from parents.
He said the provincial education board’s decision for schools not to collect fees was based on the K13 million GTFS received for this year.
“GTFS should cover outstanding fees,” Tangui said.
“If the schools have collected any fees from the parents apart from the uniform fees, then give the money back.
“It’s a clear instruction and it’s coming from the NEC, the Minister, and the secretary and passed down to the PEB.
“We are now with the government and even the provincial government doesn’t want any fees charged, so Morobe will be fee free this year.”
Tangui told school administrations who held students’ certificates due to outstanding fees to release them.