By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
Hagen Park Secondary School Principal, Tony Buldung has condemned assertions of his involvement in the misuse of Tuition Fee Free funding; however, he welcomes the investigation into the allegations.
The Western Highlands Provincial Education Board and the Provincial Administration yesterday published the names of three schools in the province which are to be investigated, over their management of TFF funding.
Mr. Buldung says his superiors should do their investigations first, before publishing names in the media.
The Hagen Park Secondary School Principal is among two other school Principals in the Western Highlands Province, listed by the Provincial Education Board, to be investigated over the alleged misuse of TFF funding.
Today, Buldung spoke to the media condemning the actions of his superiors for not investigating the allegations first, before tarnishing their names in the media.
Buldung has been accused of signing cheques without the approval of the school board, including similar administrative allegations.
He told EMTV News, that he is not the only signatory of school funds, and school cheques are cleared after they are sent to the education finance office.
Yesterday, the Provincial Education Board Chairman, Lawrence Pena said Hagen Park, Kubaya and Ogelbang high schools, are the first three to be investigated for the alleged gross misusing of millions of Kina in TFF funding.
Pena said this has resulted in the poor performances of students, and no changes in the school’s infrastructure.
However, Mr Buldung says the school never received its full component of K2 Million each year. Sometimes the school receives K200,000 installment payments for operational grants, and sometimes less.
Thirty percent of the TFF components that go to Treid Pacific for school materials never reach the school.
Another, 10 percent of the TFF components for project maintenance, which goes to the District Development Authority, have never been paid to them also.
This also calls for an investigation into the distributing of TFF components to contractors and the DDA, and the processes involved to deliver school materials and projects.
