1. INTRODUCTION
This public notice formally announces the PNG Government’s GTFS policy for 2021. In 2021, the government is maintaining the Tuition Fee Subsidy (GTFS) Policy. Under the GTFS, the government is committed to its policy on partnership and to make education a shared responsibility between the national government, provincial governments, DDAs, parents, churches and other stakeholders.
2. EDUCATION REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITY
The Marape government reiterates its profound conviction that education is a powerful tool that will transform and sustain our prosperity and therefore will maintain education as a priority policy.
The Marape government is committed to giving every child 13 years of quality education under a standard based education system including a standard-based curriculum that provides an effective platform for measuring children’s performance and for teachers to use evidence to continuously improve childrens’ learning so that they continue to make progress towards fully attaining the benchmarks and hence the attainment of content standards.
We will ensure:
- the 1-6-6 school structure that phases out elementary schools and moves grade 1 and 2 into primary schools;
- a robust standards assurance system maintained; multiple pathways with FODE and VET for students is provided;
- Schools of Excellence implemented; Early Childhood education formalized; and
- schools’ functioning have sustained funding from both government and parents.
The Government will prioritise FODE and will from this year pay the full tuition fees. In other words, FODE will be fee-free and will be established in all high and secondary schools from 2021.
3. GOVERNMENT TUITION FEE SUBSIDY POLICY
The Government Tuition Fee Subsidy (GTFS) Policy underscores its principle to make education cost of our children a partnership between governments, parents, churches and the local communities. We have seen the last regime making our people lazy, detached parents from schools and systematically removed their interest in schools.
We want to disengage and cut out the dependency syndrome that we have systematically allowed into our PNG culture. The shift in the school financing policy by the Marape government is deliberate to get parents and communities to plough the soil and work hard, and contribute to reviving the economy than creating a ‘handout culture’ and a dependency syndrome.
Papua New Guineans are naturally hard-working, resilient and self-reliant. The GTFS policy will re-establish the missing link between the parents and schools while the Government will invest in raising the quality of education, building more schools and making school managers and boards more accountable.
4. 2021 GTFS FUNDING
The total funding for the Government Tuition Fee Subsidy Policy (GTFS) in 2021 will be K486,351,600. This funding remains the same as in 2020. GTFS will have two components:
- a School Operations and Functional Grant of K388,351,600 (80%) and
- a Commodity component of K97,000,000 (20%).
We will look into a decentralized procurement model that can encourage SMEs but at the same time is affordable and ensures standards and equity.
5. 2021 TUITION COST AND NATIONAL EDUCATION BOARD (NEB) MAXIMUM FEE LIMITS
The following table shows the Total fees per NEB Maximum Fee limits for each component and by sector.
Table 1: Total Tuition Cost and Fee Limits in Kina
 |
NB: The Approved Permitted Schools are no longer supported by the
GTFS Policy.
The State will pay the full FODE Fees. |
6. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY AND PARENTAL CONTRIBUTION
Given the budget allocation, the State Contribution component will be 62% of the total NEB Maximum School Fee Limit cost and parents will pay 38%.
The actual unit fees to be paid by the state and parents based on the 62/38 sharing model for each student per sector will be as follows:
Table 2: 2021 Student Unit Tuition Fee By Sector in Kina
7. PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Parents will be required to pay fifty percent (50%) of the Parental Contribution fee at the start of the school year and the balance must be paid before the end of Term 2. The government will pay its component before the end of Term 3.
8. PROJECT FEES
Schools are allowed to collect Project Fees, but they must follow very strict approval guidelines. The Provincial Education Board is the only authority to approve a project fee for schools after it has received a School Learning Improvement Plan (SLIP), a Project Plan, Scope and Budget with a P&C Association agreement.
Where Project Fees are to be collected, it must be less than 20 percent (20%) of the Maximum Fee limit per student rate set by the National Education Board as shown below.
Table 3: Project Fees Limits for 2021
9. CHURCH AGENCY FEES
Church agency fees are to be paid by each student attending a church agency school as per the Education Act, 1983. Provincial Education Boards will set and approve the fees, but must not be above the maximum limits set below.
a) Preparatory/Elementary – K5.00
b) Primary – K7.00
c) High/Secondary and Vocational – K10.00
10. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO EDUCATION
NO school administration or governing board is to refuse any child from enrolling in school or attending classes for non-payment of any form of fees. Special arrangements should be made between the parents and the school to pay the required fees over a period in the school year.
Whilst every child has the right to education, schools also need funds to operate, therefore parents are encouraged to cooperate with school boards and pay their component of 38% as early as possible.
11. PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AND DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES
Provincial Governments and District Development Authorities are the immediate authorities responsible for the education of students in the general education sector, within their respective jurisdictions.
In the spirit of partnership, we urge every Provincial Government and District Development Authority to help their schools, and especially parents who may struggle to pay their
38% component of the fees.
Eight provinces (East New Britain, East Sepik, Eastern Highlands, Enga, Milne Bay, Morobe, New Ireland and Northern have signed MOAs with the National Government to manage national government school fee grants/subsidies. We will honour our commitment and enhance further collaboration and partnership.
12. MANDATORY SELF RELIANCE FOR SCHOOLS TO RAISE 10% OF ITS REVENUE
Self-reliance is a standing policy of the department. However, the current take-up of self-reliance projects by schools is low. Schools have become too dependent on fees and subsidies in the recent past.
Hence per the NEB recommendation at its last meeting, I direct every school to generate 10% of its school’ budget through self-reliance projects. Schools will comply with this direction in 2021.
13. CONCLUSION
The State is committed to education and pays the bulk of the cost of education for each child through teacher salaries, teacher training, standards assurance, curriculum and examinations, infrastructure, and grants, apart from the GTFS policy funding.
The Government’s Tuition Fee Subsidy Policy that advocates sharing the cost of education will continue in our endeavour to provide a sustainable education system for our children.
I thank all parents and stakeholders for your continued partnership in sharing the responsibility in the education of our children.
Any further explanation of the policy can be obtained from the Department of Education Website: www.education.gov.pg or by sending an email to gtfsinfo@education.gov.pg or calling phones: 328 888 00/73350746/32 888 661/72668181.
Authorized by:
HON. JIMMY UGURO, MP
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
(4th January 2021)
- Re-published -
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