K75.6 million to be dispatched to schools

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, June 5, 2016 (PNG)

SCHOOLS will, hopefully, by the week’s start receive a total of K76.5 million according to Education Minister Nick Kuman.

Minister Kuman revealed the figure when queried on the lateness in the distribution of the Tuition Free Fee (TFF) Policy of the Government in the distribution of the commodity component of materials in the Anglimp-South Waghi schools by MP Joe Koim Komun.

“In regards to Anglip South Whagi distribution of TFF yes all schools throughout the country have received their TFF in the first quarter of this year, the last quarter of last year’s money paid in the beginning of this year and those monies should be more than enough to keep the first term of this year,” the education minister said.

“Part of TFF we only got the warrant for K75.6 million two weeks ago and this money will be dispatched probably by next week to all the schools in the country.”

“As far as I am concerned if there is any issue with specific schools you come and see me or give me a note to follow up on them.”

When referring to the dispatch of the commodity component of the TFF program- the minister explained the pilot program run by his department to trial a private company to supply all student and teacher material was still being worked on.

“The only trial that we did was a contract being awarded to a private company back in 2013 that was the trial on the commodity component distribution eventually a report was made to cabinet only yesterday upon the completion of that student and teacher resources.”

“Now apparently this was a pilot project worth about K40 million. Apart from that since the inception of the TFF policy introduced by the government, the material component of that money 30 percent was parked together with the cash component paid to the schools system right throughout the country.”

“The department did not hold back any funds for the teacher student resources, so it is the responsibility of the schools to acquire their own resources.”

“Until enquiries in December last year Cabinet in its wisdom made a decision as part of the single TFF policy and that policy has yet to announce to the nation the detail of that decision that will look at structuring the TFF to see greater visibility of money going to the schools right throughout the country,” Kuman said.