School to repay K1m to provincial govt

 AUTHORITIES at the new Tanir High School in New Ireland will have to repay the provincial government K1 million meant for school infrastructure that was used in other areas.

Provincial education director Herman Poyasei said K1 million was committed to the new Nasko and Tanir schools by former Education Minister Theo Zurenuoc in 2011. It was not paid until 2013.

The New Ireland provincial government spent more than K1m to complete Tanir High School.

Poyasei said a letter from former New Ireland administrator Monovi Amani was sent to the school board and administration instructing them not to touch the money as the provincial government had to be reimbursed the K1m it spent on completing the new high school.

He said the school instead went ahead and spent the funds on administration and rations. 

He said the total cost of completing the new Tanir High School was K4.8m. 

He said the school apologised for defying instructions and agreed to reimburse the fund. 

He said there was no excuse to use money on administration and school rations as Tanir High School received K120,000 per quarter under the tuition fee-free subsidy.

The provincial government provided high and secondary schools with rations.