Official: 410 schools to close due to no subsidy

By JAYNE SAFIHAO
MADANG schools have not received their second quarter allocation of the government’s promised education subsidy.
As a result 410 schools in every district of the province are on the verge of closing, Education statistics officer Boniface Rukain said yesterday.
Records show that the total for both primary and elementary schools yet to receive their share in Madang district is 74, Bogia 72, Sumkar 65, Usino-Bundi 36, Middle Ramu 78 and Raicoast a total of 85 for the first quarter.
A total of 24 primary schools in Madang electorate have received their first subsidies along with only 31 elementary schools, Bogia 22 primary and 39 elementary, Sumkar 20 primary and 48 elementary, Usino-Bundi 23 primary and seven elementary, Middle Ramu has recorded only seven primary and five elementary with Raicoast having only 21 primary and 42 elementary listed as receiving theirs.
“We are creating a great injustice for our children in school,” Rukain said.
“It is their right to education.
“We do not realise the impact this whole scenario is having in the mental and psychological growth of the child. When we spoil them now we spoil them for life.”
He expressed his concern yesterday after awaiting the promised payments announced by Education Minister Paru Aihi of K201 million to be paid to schools throughout the country three weeks ago.
The minister’s statement at the time said a total K201,470,951.75 had been distributed to the three commercial banks in varying amounts, depending on which schools had accounts with each bank.
But that has not been the case as Rukain confirmed that no school in the province had received its second quarter payments.
“They have sent us a listing that showed primary and elementary schools with figures of monies beside them and a total of 24 schools with nil accounts listed.
“I am querying that as I have for the tenth time sent through email, personal delivery and post, all relevant details for those very schools,” he claimed.
He gave an example of some of the schools on the listing with figures of the subsidies showing with confused headmasters asking about the money:  Sibog Primary in Raicoast K21,754, Brahman Primary K48,418, and Kambar Primary showing K37,399, among others.
Each of these schools have not received the published amounts.
Other schools such as Behir, Abarina and Baitabag Primary, all in the Madang electorate, have expressed their frustrations by indicating verbally that they will be on the verge of closing down.
They will be among schools in the Middle Ramu area and other districts that are scraping to buy school materials to keep children in school.