Kombra: Report schools charging fees

Education Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra has reiterated that no schools should be charging any form of fees to students this year.

Dr Kombra said this includes project fees, registration fees, and any other charges that have not been approved by the Education Department.

He made these comments following several complaints from parents and guardians alleging that some schools are still imposing fees on students.

Dr Kombra explained that the National Government has allocated approximately K904 million for tuition fees this year, including K160 million earmarked for project fees, as part of the K4.9 billion total allocation to the education sector.

He clarified that parents and guardians are only permitted to support schools through approved self-reliance projects.

“A self-reliance project is a project initiated by the school. It could be a classroom, an auditorium, or a staff house,” he said.

“For a self-reliance project, parents are only required to contribute if the Parents and Citizens Association agrees and approves, submits the proposal to the Provincial Education Board, and the Board gives its approval. Only then can the school collect contributions from parents.”

Furthermore, the Education Secretary has urged parents and guardians to report any school heads who defy official directives and continue charging fees.

“If any headmaster or board is denying a child’s right to education, you have the right to report this to the school inspector,” Dr Kombra said.

“In every district and every province, we have school inspectors. You must report the incident to the inspector, but you must also provide evidence.”

“If the school gives you a notice asking for payment, provide that notice as evidence. The inspector will then use it to warn or direct the principal to stop collecting the fees.”

“If the school continues to disregard the inspector’s instructions, the inspector will have no option but to charge the headmaster,” he added.

Parents and guardians can also lodge complaints about school fees through the Education Department’s website at www.education.gov.pg or by emailing enquiries@education.gov.pg.