Province allocates K2mil for school fees

THE Milne Bay government has allocated K2 million to help parents pay their share of school fees this year.
Governor Sir John Luke Crittin said during the handing down of the province’s budget of K203.9 million in Alotau last Friday, the provincial executive council had allocated K2 million to support the Government’s tuition fee subsidy policy.
But the K2 million will only be for those attending secondary schools, FODE and TVET institutions.
The Government in its 2020 budget decided to provide students attending tertiary institutions with loans, while cutting back on its free education policy for students in schools. Parents will have to pay a percentage of their children’s school fees from this year.
“My government remains committed to supporting parents and children,” he said.
“I also call on my fellow MPs (in Milne Bay) to develop options to complement this funding initiative in your respective district development authorities for elementary and primary school education.
“The Division of Education is tasked to coordinate the dispensation for both of this funding initiative in an equitable and efficient manner.”
Sir John also announced last Friday that the province would support the 16 local level governments with K100,000 worth of projects.
On top of that, K20,000 will be paid to each appointed member of the provincial assembly for programmes in their LLGs.