Parents to pay only 37 per cent, says PM

PARENTS will actually be paying only 37 per cent – not 50 per cent – of fees in elementary, primary and high schools, Prime Minister James Marape says.
He said parents, provincial governments and districts had been asked to partner with the Government in picking up the 37 per cent of the fees.
“Just 37 per cent we are passing on to parents, provinces and districts to pay.
“The Government will offset the balance which would be about 60 per cent,” he said.
“It’s a better arrangement, we are giving instructions for parents, provincial governments and districts to pay at the back end of the year – July, August and September – while the Government will front load the balance.”
He also said the Government had started work on implementing the Higher Education Loans Programme (HELP) to benefit tertiary students.
Marape told parents of students attending tertiary institutions that National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil would ensure that National Identity (NID) and Civil Registry facilities were made available to students to register in their districts.
“We will have funding available for every kid entering colleges and universities so they can advance.
“And in their course of their lives, they can pay interest free forever.
“We will have NID opportunity for students nationwide partnering with provincial governments and districts.”
He urged students to get registered.