MP: Rights denied for too long

By PISAI GUMAR
THE people of Papua New Guinea have been denied free education and health services for too long, National Planning and Monitoring Minister and Bulolo MP Sam Basil said.
He said basic education was not a privilege but a right for all citizens and it was the government’s responsibility to provide that and free
health services.
Presenting K20, 000 each to St Steven’s, Hompiri, St Peter’s and Mumeng primary schools, he urged Christians to work closely with the government in using the church partnership programme concept.
“Churches have, over the years, provided vital services, especially health and education, apart from spiritual activities, that the government recognises and values the crucial role they play towards the development of the country.
“Therefore, churches need to initiate more humanitarian activities to involve and seek assistance from government,” Basil said.
 “School headmasters and boards should not over-charge students for project fees, ripping off parents. Otherwise, they will be held answerable to the authorities responsible.”
He said all 42 primary and two secondary schools had been allocated K20,000 each.
Basil presented cheques of K3,800 to the Bulolo Seventh-Day Adventist church and K2,000 to the St Stevens Lutheran church.
For rural schools, money will be paid into their respective bank accounts and receipts delivered to them.
The money was budgeted from K1 million DSIP funds that caters for two Landcruisers for the district education standard officer and elementary trainer.
Apart from the K1 million, the government’s free
education portion was paid
to all schools around the
country that submitted the required documents to the Education Department.
Standard officer Kwinda Trenien said all money would be spent in line with the Public Financial Management Act.
“A format on how to use the monies was already set in place meaning that all spending will be accurately monitored and acquitted to avoid unnecessary expenditures,” Trenien said.