TTF funds to be paid quarterly, Kombra says

PAYMENTS of the tuition fee-free subsidies to schools will be made quarterly and not in a lump sum as in previous years, according to acting Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra.
He said in a statement released last Friday that the Government had allocated K602 million this year, with K150.5 million to be paid in each quarter.
“The allocation for Quarter One has been paid out to all the schools in January and March this year,” Kombra said.
For the second quarter, the first payment of K75.6 million has already been made and schools should be expecting their money anytime this week.
Kombra said the payments were disbursed to schools around the country according to the three components – administration (40 per cent), infrastructure (30 per cent), teaching and learning (30 per cent).
He said the infrastructure component had been finalised and would be paid into trust accounts at the district treasury for the schools to access.
“I call on all schools to spend the money on improving the quality of teaching and learning while at the same time the school authorities must ensure to account for all the money received and spent,” he said.
The total amount for the Quarter Two Payment this year is K62, 870,207.08.
Meanwhile, Kombra said recently that flexible open distant education centres would receive nearly K3.5 million this year as part of the subsidies.
He urged stakeholders and parents to support his department in ensuring that every child in the country was in school to receive a good education.