State bans school project fees

SCHOOLS have been told not to charge students projects fees unless approved by the provincial education board.
Education secretary Dr Musawe Sinebare said in a statement that the national education board decided this in Kimbe on Feb 16 in light of public complaints and reports of schools charging project fees.
“All project fees are now suspended until approval is sought from provincial education boards to approve the projects fees.
“That should be minimal,” he said.
This applies to all institutions, including national high schools, which should seek approval from the national education board.
The statement said no child should be denied the opportunity to education because of project fees.
“The NEB is concerned about schools using project fees as a condition for student enrolment. This should be stopped.
“The NEB recognises that education is a partnership programme and such project initiatives from schools will not be discouraged,” he said.
Sinebare said the NEB wished to see that proper procedures were followed in obtaining decisions and the project fees charged to parents “are reasonable and not excessive”.
Sinebare said school boards, head teachers and principals “have no legal authority to charge parents project fees or school fees”.