Teacher calls for freeze on funds

 A SCHOOL headmaster has called on the Government to withhold the 30% free education subsidy fees allocated for infrastructure development.
Kondopina Primary School headmaster Simon Kum made the call after noticing some schools were using this allocation on other projects rather than building new classrooms.
He said the free education policy had created a situation in schools where there was a big intake of students but not enough classrooms to accommodate everyone.
Kum said this caused overcrowding which was not conducive to learning. He gave as an example at Kondopina Primary School where a staff room was being turned into a classroom.
“We have no choice but resort to such practice because of the number of students,’’ Kum said.
Kum said the school was fortunate to build a double-storey classroom with the help of local MP, Wesley Nukundi.
“It is a big relief for the teachers and will cater for the increasing number of students,’’ he said.
He said many schools were not prioritising infrastructure and misusing funds allocated for it.
“They spend the funds here and there because the money is already in their school account,’’ he said.
Kum said it was something the Government needed to look into.
Kum said instead of depositing all the subsidy funds into school accounts, the education department should retain the 30% allocated for infrastructure development.