STUDENTS, PARENTS & SPONSORS – THIS IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION
By Erinuka Simon | 01.24.20.
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In a press conference, this is what the Minister for Education (Joseph Yopyyopy) said. Part of what he said is attached and marked with arrows for your information. It appeared in today’s (January 24, 2020) Post Courier on page 3. It concerns students from Elementary to Gr 12 in National High or Secondary School.

What it meant is this:
Government will pay 63% of the total fees charged and this 63% will cater for Terms 1, 2, & 3. Parents will pay 37% in Term 4 which will add up to 100%.

This means that “YOU IGAT SCHOOL FEE OR NOGAT PIKININI MAS GO SCHOOL YET. NA SCHOOL BOARD OR HEAD TEACHER NOGAT POWER LONG RAUSIM PIKININI LONG SCHOOL”.

If you don’t have fees, the Govt is paying (67%) on your behalf for the first 3 terms so kids must not be denied their right to education because you don’t have the fees. Just send them in when school starts on 3 February 2020.

If you have kids in both tertiary and primary or secondary school, concentrate on your child in tertiary institution and later you can pay for primary or secondary school fees.

However, if you have full or part of the fees to pay, then, just pay it off! You can also spread the payment between the first 3 terms to pay the 37%. If you don’t pay anything between the first 3 terms, you will pay the full 37% in Term 4 and this is compulsory and a must!

In any case, parents must always be alert to pay the 37% any time because the govt’s component of 67% might not come on time as promised by Education Minister. Delayed payment with excuses was normal during the TFF time so I hope it does not repeat under Marape/Steven leadership.

Lastly, Head Teachers, Principles and School Managers and Board DO NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT OR POWER TO SEND YOUR CHILD HOME DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF FEES UNLESS THE GOVT FAILS TO PAY UP THE 67% AS PROMISED.

So parents must not listen to anyone who asks for fees as a requirement to enroll your child in 2020. Report the principal and the school to the Education Secretary and Minister if any school denies your child’s enrolment due to non payment of fees or project fees.

PROJECT FEES? Project fee is not compulsory and schools must not treat it as part of school fees. Students must not be sent home because of non-payment of project fee too. The maximum project fee limit is just 20% of the total parental contribution of the fees.

For example, a parent of a Gr 12 student will pay 20% of K399.35 (Day) or K641.38 amounting to K79.87 and K128.27 respectively. It also has strict requirements to meet before imposing project fees.

A short one on TESAS and HELP Program? Government confirmed that TESAS will remain and HELP is an option available for students who cannot fully meet the cost of their education. Term of repayment of Loan under HELP is LIFE Time.

Thank you na olgeta school pikinini, God blessim yupla long 2020 school year. GOD FIRST, EDUCATION SECOND N OTHERS LAST.

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