PM: Open school bank accounts

SCHOOLS need to urgently open bank accounts to access government subsidy on tuition fees, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says.
So far, bank accounts have been opened for 5,835 schools and about K185 million disbursed for one million school children in these schools.
Bank accounts are being set up for 3,500 schools and authorities hope to have them operational by the start of the school year next week.
“It’s hard work but it’s got to be done if our children are to receive a decent education for a good start in life, and I commend officials from the Education Department and the Bank South Pacific for working tirelessly on this,” O’Neill said.
He was briefed yesterday on the progress of the disbursement of the first batch of school fee subsidies to schools.
He was disappointed to learn that the records and data of most schools were in such a mess that it was taking longer than expected to get the subsidies into schools’ bank accounts.
“The mess in the records and data of schools in the country is symptomatic of the neglect the schools suffered over a long period of time under the previous regime,’’ he said.
“This lack of proper record has led to a lot of administrative problems reported in our schools.
“This information gap is contributing to the delay in the disbursement of subsidies. There has been no urgency to act on information in the past.
“There has been failure to submit school census forms in previous years. It is a disgraceful situation.
“For many schools, it is their first time to open bank accounts in their own names. It is a tedious process, but it must be done.”
O’Neill called on all relevant authorities to work together to ensure the 2012 school year got off to a good start.
“I call on all parents, guardians, teachers and school administrators, and all relevant authorities to ensure each of your school has its bank accounts and records in place to ensure the school year starts smoothly for our children,” he said.