PM O’Neill Directs all Outstanding School Fee Subsidies to be Released to Schools this Week

PNG  Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill  has directed that outstanding school fee payments be made direct to individual schools from the National Government to ensure schools are funded for the upcoming school term.

To facilitate these payments, 90million Kina was drawn last Friday, 10 April, to pay the remainder of Tuition Fee Free funding for the first 2 terms of the current school year.

PM O'Neill outlined this plan of action plan that is being delivered alongside the investigation commissioned by Chief Secretary to Government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, that is seeking answers to the possibility of misappropriated school fees.

He said the investigation has two main pathways that include investigating where the unaccounted for funds have gone, but of greater immediate urgency he said the commission will provide details schools that have been cut short of funds so that they can be paid direct by the Government this week.

"The delivery of tuition free education is a cornerstone policy of our Government and we will not let this be interrupted by incompetence or mismanagement," the Prime Minister said following a further update on the situation.

"We promised the people of this nation that we would get their children into school and this is what we are doing.

"Anyone who gets in the way of the delivery of free education will be moved aside and we will deliver these school fees for our families.

"I have directed that all that schools still awaiting their school fee subsidy will receive this money direct from the Government this week.

"There is no reason for any school not to open for the new school term.

"Education is a right for all children of Papua New Guinea and our Government will continue to implement reform to ensure our children can attend school regardless of their economic situation."

The Prime Minister said the list of schools that have not received their full funding is being finalised and outstanding money would be released direct to schools in the coming days.