School fees paid in

 By SHEILA MALKEN

THE Government has paid more than K97 million into the bank accounts of schools to ensure they have sufficient funding for Term Two which starts today, an official says.

Finance Acting Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan told The National that K97,836,482 was paid into the school accounts on Friday, April 10, representing 30 per cent of the first payment of tuition fee-free funding by the Government.

“The Education Department has been following the process of last year’s TFF fund distribution,” he said. 

“But it will soon get an update on the enrollment for this year and amendments will be made.

“This is the normal process of paying the TFF. The money released was based on the 2014 figures.

“The Government through the Prime Minister has set up an investigation team to look at how the money had been spent and how we (Government) can do it better,” Ngangan said.

“This is a proactive action taken. Firstly, we are looking at the distribution mechanism. Secondly, how it is spent by the schools especially those complaining about the funds.” 

Ngangan said the Finance Department would take more control of the school funds.  

“I will issue a Finance instruction shortly (this week) that every school bank account will be co-signed by both the school headmasters, principals and provincial and district treasury staff,” he said.

“These will see how the TFF fund is managed and spent at the school level.” 

He said this would ensure the proper use of the fund. 

“This will apply to all approved operating schools in the national education system, including permitted schools, FODE and inclusive education institution,” Ngangan said. 

Education Minister Nick Kuman had said the remaining balance would be paid to schools that had been underpaid in the first payment, or missed out because they failed to fulfil the four minimum standards of the TFF funds.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had promised to personally look into the non-payment of fees after some schools said they would not start classes for Term Two because they lacked funding.

A school teacher said last night the school officials would check their bank account this week to see if the money had been deposited already.

“The process is a bit long but maybe by mid this week, we should be able to say whether or not we have the fund in the school account,” the teacher said.