School awaits next portion of fees

Momase, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday October 17th, 2013

 By JAYNE SAFIHAO

THE newly-established Transgogol High School in Madang is still waiting to receive its second payment of the tuition fee subsidy.

Principal Ben Tamilong said the school had not yet received the K358,000 despite making the necessary changes to bank details more than five times as advised by the Education Department.

“We have made changes to our account and have for the 10th time done follows-up at the bank. But the money is not coming,” he said.

“We received the first batch payment but the second batch payment is yet to be received.”

No comment could be obtained from the Education Department.

He said the money would be used to ensure that the school became a national high school catering for Grade 11 and Grade 12 students.

The school, which a 90-minute from Madang town, was opened by Treasury Minister Don Polye with only 130 students enrolled.

The schools expansion programme includes the completion of the new administration block, new science and computer labs.

Tamilong said the current enrolment of 385 students had put a strain on the availability of the bed space, particularly for boys.

A new dormitory for the boys is under construction, with power supply still to be connected and fencing incomplete.

“We want to ensure that the fencing and other works are completed before the new school year but the delay in funding will set us back,” he said.

Finance and Education Minister James Marape and Housing Minister Paul Isikiel visited the school recently to launch its water supply project.