AS long as the O’Neill-Dion Government is in power fee-free education will continue, says Leader of Government Business James Marape.
Mr Marape, who is Finance and acting Education Minister, told Parliament this during Question Time on Friday. He said the Government would embark on free education policy and expand on it so that all the kids in schools from elementary to secondary schools received tuition fee-free education. Mr Marape was responding to questions from Enga Governor Peter Ipatas who asked that the administration of the tuition fee be managed by the province as it has the capacity to run the program. “I did send instructions to Education Department to process this request as you would know this is the first request from the provincial government,’’ Mr Marape said. “It is a request first of its kind and there has been a little bit of resistance from our administrators of the Education Department simply on the grounds that every other province run free education straight from Waigani, especially the fact on real time taken to processing of the money, instead of going through another secondary system which may be affecting schools not receiving cash on time.” “Instead of cheques we are remitting direct into school accounts, 90 per cent of the schools already have their accounts open and the balance of 10 per cent to have their accounts open so we deliver the money in real time and those were the reasons. “I will work with the Governor to ensure they guarantee that as soon as money comes, money that is meant for cash component go straight to schools. “By next year, commodity component like kits are provided and cash component go straight to schools, I will tidy this with the Enga Provincial Government, the provincial education board to see that quick transfer of funds can be maintained in Enga.” Mr Marape said education and health are priorities of this government. Post Courier /PNG Education News Related News Comments are closed.
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