Re-introduce free education

THE Government needs to revive the free education policy.
This policy including free basic health services supported the bulk of Papua New Guinea’s population.
More than 80 per cent of the country’s population sustain themselves through subsistence farming.
Due to limited or no cash flow activities going into our remote villages, it is difficult to earn cash.
Our villagers wait for seasons to harvest their cash crops such as coffee and cocoa.
The monies earned from these cash crops are spent on daily needs such as soap and other personal and family obligations.
At most times, it’s hard for them to save enough for school fees.
Those with more than one child attending schools struggle with cash.
Most times, children are told to stay home because parents cannot afford fees.
Since the inception of the free education policy in 2011, we saw a shift in our education where the majority of our people accessed primary education.
It was good to see unfortunate and underprivileged kids attending.
The illiteracy rate of Papua New Guinea had dropped as adults took advantage of the policy and continued their studies from where they left.
Parents had a chance to save extra cash for other needs.
The Government, under Prime Minister James Marape, has changed the free education with the higher education loan programme (Help).
The Help policy, although aimed to help subsidise tertiary students’ fees, is not workable at the moment.
Many parents still struggle to support their tertiary students and most students cannot access those funds.
Help is a foreign concept.
It needs time to be incorporated into our education system.
With due respect, the Government should reconsider re-introducing the free education policy and do away with Help until when we’re ready.

Bring Back TFF
Maru Igabi