Review TFF, assist with fees after Grade 12

AFTER many years of tuition-fee free (TFF) education in Papua New Guinea, we, the parents and citizens have realised several errors the Government, through the Education Department, needs to address to improve on.
It’s been more than 10 years since TFF was introduced and there needs to be a review of the system.
First, we see that since a fairly large amount of money is being invested into TFF, our roads, bridges, and Government administrative stations are being neglected.
We are aware of the continued delays in the processing of the necessary funding to reach schools.
For many schools in rural areas, this funding never reaches them on time and by the time it does, a term or even an entire academic year has passed.
When this happens, headmasters and board of governors have a difficult time to administer their respective schools.
Often, there are no textbooks for school libraries, a new classroom or a teacher’s house cannot be built or repaired.
Many head teachers make it their businesses to get bank loans to make sure the school administration is functioning well with the hope that when the TFF money arrives, there will be sufficient funds to offset these loans.
But most times, these funds fall short of the target, leaving head teachers and management in trouble with the banks.
Some teachers may have already been penalised but they cannot say much.
They need parents and citizens to speak up for a sound education system in Papua New Guinea.
It would be good if each child’s school fee from grades 1 to 12 – is met by their parents while the free hand out mentality can be exercised after grade 12 because these children will need higher fees for tertiary education.
This is where the Government and provincial governments can assist parents.

Gerard Saleu