No school fees for Papua New Guineans next year

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinean students in a school class

No school fees for Papua New Guineans next year

PORT MORESBY: The Government is bringing back its free education policy next year, paying the ful tuition fees of students from pre-school to Grade 12.

Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra said it would be a relief for parents enjoyed the policy from 2012 to January last year when they were told to pay 37 per cent of tuition fees.

The welcoming news break was reported by The National:

No school fees in 2022

December 10, 2021The NationalMain Stories

Students of Salamaua Primary School reciting the national pledge at the Salamaua local level government in Morobe recently. The Government is bringing back its free education policy next year, paying the full tuition fees for students from pre-school to Grade 12. – Nationalfilepic

By JAMES GUKEN,
DWU journalism student
THE Government is bringing back its free education policy next year, paying the full tuition fees of students from pre-school to Grade 12.
Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra said it would be a relief for parents, who had been enjoying the policy since 2012 until January last year when they were told to pay 37 per cent of tuition fees.
“The increase in school fees (since January last year) has been a great challenge for parents in the period of the Coronavirus, when they had to find money to put food on the table while paying school fees. The Government’s aid would be a relief for parents next year,” he said.
The Education sector has been allocated K632 million in the 2022 national budget, compared to K486 million this year.
Students in pre-school up to Grade 12 attending government-recognised schools would be exempted from paying fees in 2022.
But Kombra said parents would still be required to pay project fees and other necessary fees required by schools.
Yesterday, former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who introduced the free education policy in 2012 and watched as his successor James Marape changed it in 2020, said it was just another election promise.
“They (Government) do not have the funding (for the tuition-fee free education),” he said.
“The PNC (People’s National Congress) had that policy for eight years. They shouldn’t have cancelled it.
“Three years of suffering. Kids and families have suffered for three years. A little bit too late.”
Dr Kombra said the education department would continue to demand more from the Government because the number of students sitting examinations was increasing every year, and the security of examination answers was a concern.
He urged the Government to continue supporting education in PNG as it was the backbone of the country.
“The measurement service division (MSD) was supposed to be given K19 million to support the Grade 10 and 12 examinations this year but was only given K16 million. The MSD managed to carry out the exams successfully,” Dr. Kombra said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30

Image
News that matters in Papua New Guinea Armed tribal warriors on the move in Sugu Valley. Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30 PORT MORESBY: At least six tribes have been fighting in Sugu Valley (Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands) since Feb 10, 2019, without any signs of an end and peace. In fact, the death toll has risen to at least 30, up from 11 on May 23, 2019, and the opening of a new battlefront in Sumbura near Poroma with multiple deaths reported in 24 wards. Armed tribal warriors on the march into the forests and jungles. PNG Cyber Monitor had on a May 25, 2019, posting ( https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2019/05/real-life-rifles-bows-and-arrows-bloody.html Real life rifles, bows and arrows bloody fights in PNG ) highlighted the bloody battle waged by tribal warriors armed with rifles, bows and arrows and knives. PNG Cyber Monitor is again highlighting the plight of the villagers who have been living in fear as reported by The Nationa
Read more

Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea (Employment stagnant since 2014) PORT MORESBY: Employment in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained stagnant since 2014 with millions of unemployed looking for jobs. The formal job market currently can only accommodate between 400,000 and 500,000, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says. “As more young people enter the job market this year after graduating from tertiary institutions and schools, the chances of securing formal employment is slim. “Employment had remained stagnant despite the increase in potential workers coming out of educations institutions,” he added. Read on for more details as published by The National : Hard to get jobs January 27, 2022 The National Main Stories By DALE LUMA MILLIONS of eligible workers around the country are looking for jobs in the formal sector, which currently can
Read more

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era. Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head. Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd. In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga. Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency. “Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.” The news break was published by The National : Horror torture of women Decem
Read more