With second week of school beginning, the primary and secondary schools in Port Moresby have received the Circular from the Education Secretary, Dr. Uke Kombra, not to charge any project Fees.
Schools visited by EMTV News have followed orders and have not charged any project fees.
But Wardstrip Primary School Principal, Emily Tamate-Ricky said that if the school needed to charge fees, they will do so.
EMTV News visited four schools in the nation’s capital.
The first school Kila Kila Primary School’s Deputy Principal, Kereva Lavai said that no projects fee will be charged.
Followed by Gordons Secondary School, who had a notice from the principal stating that no fees would be charged by the school.
Meanwhile, Wardstrip Primary, the largest primary school in Port Moresby last year had almost 3,000 students enrolled.
Principal Emily Tamate-Ricky said while Project fees have not been charged, the school may at one point ask parents.
Subsidies are scheduled to be paid today as said by Finance Minister, James Marape, last week in parliament.
Mrs. Tamate-Ricky said she managed to save subsidies from last year that came in late at the end of the school year, and she is now using that to start the school year off.
EMTV News then visited Gerehu Secondary School, which was the fourth school.
At Gerehu Secondary School, the school had a circular asking parents to bring along the school fee deposit slips for registration. Attempts for an interview with the principal on the matter was unsuccessful.
Staff explained, off record, it was a parental fee for exercise books.
The Tuition Fee Free Policy is supposed to help more students attend school but it seems to be causing problems for various school administrations.
