Schools urged to acquit in order to receive tuition funds

Caption:   Education Minister Nick Kuman (picture by Benny Malaisa)

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, May 18, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

Minister for Education Nick Kuman made the comments when responding to questions from the media during a press conference held last week about issues of schools not receiving (TFF) Tuition Free Fee payments.

The Minister said that K300 million has already been put into system in the months of April and May with all commercial banks.

He responded to some of the issues regarding TFF payments not reaching schools, the main one being that schools were not acquitting for the funds they received through the governments free tuition policy.

“One of the main among other is an acquittal problem, if you cannot acquit for the previous years funding then you cannot be paid for this year,” the minister pointed out.

“There is no way we are to pay for tuitions unless you acquit for the year before- that is a prerequisite there is no way you will get out of it.”

“It is strict, that is why we are calling on the headmasters and principles to ensure that they do their part of the work by ensuring all these information are brought back to us.”

He also mentioned other issues that contributed to funds not reaching some schools like account details and student census information.

“Some schools have decided to change their accounts from one bank to another, and some are moving from one location to another, those are management issues that are slowing process of paying monies to schools,” the minister explained.

“Some are complaining that they were receiving less than what they should receive in terms of enrollment numbers- the problem is the schools and the provincial education boards have to bring back school census data back to the department.”

“The census forms are important, as it gives the total number of enrollment for the year and gives us teacher numbers.”

“Those are issues causing delays, we need all these information sorted out in order to pay the fees.”

He added that they had already paid out 80% of the money out to our schools.

“We do not keep the money in Waigani, it is all in Commercial Banks in holding trust accounts so when schools update their accounts we certify and send it to the bank.”