Probe school over project fees

 PARENTS and guardians of students attending St Paul’s Lutheran Secondary School in Pausa near Wapenamanda, Enga, are so frustruated and are concerned over the illegal cash collections of project fees by the school’s administration despite Governor Sir Peter Ipatas’ fee free education policy.

Students and parents have been been told by the school’s register to pay k250 cash up front before being registered.

A memo was released last week by the governor’s office advised principals and head teachers of all schools from secondary down to elementary not to impose project fees from parents and guardians as his fee free policy is still current.

Furthermore, a joint statement released by the Education Minister and his acting Secretary on January 21, 2016 states that students will not be denied education for non-payment of this fee.

Education is a right for all children and the O’Neill Government made a landmark decision when it introduced the Tuition Fee Free (TFF) policy in 2011.

We have been informed that a substantial amount of money brought forward from last year is still sitting in the Pausa Secondary School account and is more than sufficient to operate together with the Government subsidy for the first quarter of 2016.

Therefore, if there is sufficient money in the school bank account then why is the administration imposing the K250.project fee?

It’s about time our action governor intervened in this matter and have those responsible referred and charged for defying instructions.

Concerned Parent

Pausa, Enga