Schools told not to charge fees

PNG Education Secretary Miachael Tapo warns
schools not to collect Project fees.

Education Secretary Dr Michael Tapo today re-issued instructions for all schools operating legally under the National Education system to refrain from charging or collecting any form of project fees this year.

All Elementary, Primary, Provincial High and Secondary Schools, Vocational Centres, National High Schools, Flexible and Open Distance Education, Inclusive Education Resource Centres and approved Permitted Schools operating within the National Education System have been advised not to charge or collect any form of Project Fees from students attending school in 2015.

“Heads of schools and institutions covered by the National Education System are instructed to refrain from collecting Project Fees regardless of the Project Fees endorsed by the Provincial Education Boards last year,” he said in a statement.

Dr Tapo said the Department of Education will take necessary disciplinary actions against  heads of schools and institutions who defy this instruction.

“Similarly, all schools’ and institutions’ boards are to comply with the Secretary’s Instruction by not collecting any Project Fees.

“Parents, guardians and community members are to report any school or institution that collects Project Fees to the respective TFF regional coordinators with the National Department of Education,” he said.

He said In the case of provinces which have Provincial Education Acts schools’ and institutions’ boards, the provincial Education authorities will be asked to suspend these boards.  In other cases where a province does not have a Provincial Education Act, the NEB will take the necessary action to suspend the board.

“If any principal, manager, head teacher or TIC collects any form of fees from students, he or she will be charged for defying lawful instructions and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.”

Parents, guardians and all stakeholders are asked to report to the National Department of Education school boards and administrations that collect Project Fees from students to the respective Tuition Fee Free Regional Coordinators.

They can be contacted as follows;-

Highlands Regional TFF Coordinator                         3013416

Momase Regional TFF Coordinator                          3013415

NGI Regional TFF Coordinator                                   3013419

Southern Regional TFF Coordinator                         3014803

PNG Today / PNGLOOP