School is free

By JESHER TILTO
PARENTS and guardians have been reminded that the Government has already paid the school fees and project fees for their children this year.
Education Minister Jimmy Uguro confirmed yesterday that the fees covered every child from elementary to Grade 12.
“Parents must not pay school fees,” he said.
“The Government will to pay school fees for students from the elementary level through to Grade 12.”
He also said project fees had also been paid by the Government.
“Last year, K160 million was allocated for project fees but had to be held back (because) of schools misusing these funds,” he said.
Classes for the new academic year are scheduled to start on Jan 30. Teachers however are expected to start a week earlier on Jan 23.
Uguro revealed this in Parliament yesterday in response to Kairuku MP Peter Isoaimo who wanted to know the status of the tuition fee-free policy.
Isoaimo said: “While we have appropriated funds for free education in the 2023 national budget, we already have schools and institutions issuing notices to parents and guardians to pay schools fees even before the (children) go back to school.”
He said parents needed to know if they were required to pay any fees.
Uguro said the Government had already paid all fees.
“The K632 million from last year had been paid as school fee subsidy. The Government has already paid these fees,” he said.
“We paid before schools start and before they end the academic year.”
Uguro added that many schools used their bank accounts “as an ATM machine”.
“I have directed the department and the banks to stop the transaction of K160 million (for project fees) in our accounts,” he said. “The funds will be released before schools start.”
Uguro warned the school boards and management to stop misleading parents.
“The Government is paying school fees and you have to report to the education authorities in your provinces about the funds that you receive,” he said.
“Schools imposing fees on parents must be reported and charged accordingly.”