Parents told not to run to media about TFF funds

The National National

MOROBE provincial education advisor Keith Jiram has called on teachers and school administrators not to speak on issues regarding finance to the media.
Jiram told The National yesterday that teachers and schools needed to accept the fact that Morobe was one of only three provinces that charged project fees.
“Teachers who have issues with the tuition fee free (TFF) education should not run to the media because it spoils the good name of the province, and what we are doing,” Jiram said.
“Morobe is one of the province that charges project fees.
“We should not complain about tuition fee free education to the media and about what happened to the project fees that parents paid.
“I don’t think schools should face any financial problems because project fees can address shortfalls.”
He said when teachers went to the media, it forced the division to instruct the school inspectors and district education managers to check the spending of the school, and find out what happened to the projects fees.
The Morobe provincial education board listed fees to be charged by schools:

  • For schools receiving TFF: elementary – K200, community/primary – K300, high/secondary – K600, Tvet – K500.
  • for schools not receiving TFF: elementary – K300, community/primary – K400, high/secondary – K700, Tvet – K500.
  • For student transfer and repeat: elementary – K50, community/primary – K100, high/secondary – K150, Tvet – K100.

Jiram said it was important that parents paid project fees.
“It goes back to the parents,” he said.
“Parents must also play their role and pay their children’s project fees.”