Parents pitch in to help school

 By SHEILA MALKEN

PARENTS at a school have agreed to pay fees because of the financial problem is facing regarding the late payment of the Government subsidy.

The parents of almost 780 students attending St Gabriel Technical Secondary School in Kiunga agreed to pay what they call a parental assistance fee for boarding and day students.

School principal Brother Gabriel Sevak told The National yesterday that parents agreed to pay K500 for day students and K700 for boarding students this year.

“We have been facing a lot of problem with the TFF policy. 

“This is a boarding school and whatever (Government payment) is coming to the school cannot cater for all the school’s needs,” Sevak said.

He said the school received the last quarter fees “but the K62,000 received for a boarding facility – it is not possible to run a school”. 

“Despite the challenges we faced, we continued to the end of last year. Nothing to question here. 

“The Government knows how much is given to us, which is not enough to cater for all out needs,” he said.

“I have 29 teachers who all resumed work last week and students are still coming in to enrol.”

The academic year started yesterday with about two million students expected to enrol in schools around the country.