Education Department Announced School Closure for 4 weeks

 In line with the PNG Govt's National Isolation Strategy, the Department of Education announced the closure of schools for 4 weeks, starting Monday 22nd March 2021.

• School Closure form 22nd March 2021 to 19th  April 2021 (Weeks 8, 9, 10 of Term 1 and the Term 1 Holiday week, included)
• Schools resume on Monday 19th April 2021.
• School heads and Teachers must plan to recover the lost lessons once schools resume.
• Education Department will use Radio, Television and the internet to deliver lessons for key subjects during the suspension period.
• If there is a suspected case in a school community, the individual(s) must be immediately isolated, and you call the local medical centre and authorities.

Below is the circular from the Minister for Education, Hon. Jimmy Uguro.

Given the recent surge in the number of COVID 19 cases across the country, the government will announce a National Isolation Strategy with specific instructions to contain the surge.

Schools pose a huge challenge given the practical difficulties we have to apply and comply with the COVID 19 preventive measure like social distancing. It is possible that nationwide school suspensions or closures can help contain the spread of the virus, thereby reducing its impact on individuals, groups, health systems, and the economy as a whole.

Direction on Suspension  of Classes

Therefore, consistent with Sections 27 and 91 of the Education Act 1983, I  as the Minister responsible for education give direction for the suspension of schools in the General Education Sector for four (4) weeks. Specifically, it is from 22 March 2021 to 19th  April 2021. According to the  Education  Calendar, it will be Week 8, 9, 10 of Term 1 and the Term 1 Holiday week.

Lord willing, we will resume normal classes on Monday 19 April 2021.

This approval for suspension will apply to

(a) provincial institutions (namely, pre-schools, elementary schools, primary schools, high schools, secondary schools and vocational institutions) and

(b) national institutions, namely national high schools, Inclusive Education Resource Centers and FODE (tutorials).

The approval for suspension means that there will be no formal classes, tests, and examinations conducted at a school.

Protocols for Provincial Schools:

1. Each Provincial Education Board in consultation with the respective Provincial Government and Health authorities will determine the smooth implementation of this suspension of classes;

2. Teachers who do come to schools during the suspension to set students homework and other tasks must strictly follow pandemic control and preventive measures at all times. Schools gates must be locked and secured; and

3. School heads and Teachers during the suspension are to work on plans to recover lessons once schools resume, set termly programs, lesson plans, homework, tests and examinations.

Protocols  for the National High Schools  and Inclusive Education Resource Centers:

1. All national high schools will be locked down, and boarding students must strictly follow COVID19 prevention directives;

2. Students who can return home, can be allowed to do so, but they will not return until classes resume;

3. Huge school gatherings involving more than 20 students are prohibited;

4. For every teacher and student who will remain in schools, the whole community must be properly educated and they participate in practical drills on control and preventative measures; and

5. Contacts with outsiders must be limited and highly controlled.

Protocols for Teachers Colleges and Technical Colleges

The directions to be given by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology should be adhered to.

Protocols for Private Schools:

All private schools are urged to follow COVID19 prevention directives and suspend classes for the period of suspension too. All respective boards of private schools must implement directives of the National Pandemic Control Centre and this Office.

Lessons during the suspension period:

The Department will use three modes namely, Radio, Television and the internet to deliver lessons for key subjects during the suspension period.  Details will be made known in a Secretary's Circular.

A Secretary's Circular will also suggest plans schools will take to recover lessons lost during the suspension. We will also make an assessment and advise if there will be any change to the national examination dates soon.

Emergency Contacts:

If there is a suspected case in a school community, the individual(s) must be immediately isolated, and you call the local medical centre and authorities.

Conclusion

It is with a heavy heart that I am compelled to issue this direction, but it is done for the greater good and welfare of our students, teachers and the community at large. I urge all of us to follow all the basic preventative measures to stay away from the virus and protect others as well.

Please listen to the local radio and watch out for other messages and directions we will send out to schools related to this suspension of classes.

///ENDS

The original Ministerial Statement is available here. 

C19 Vs Education: Children Learning is Important too

As important as it is to stop the C19 pandemic from spreading in PNG, it is also important to educate our children at this trying time. This is the message on a thread in PNG Insight. I've fixed the messages and re-posted them here. 

The message is clear. The govt must also give equal and undivided attention to the education of our children at this time. 

Twitter discussion/thread

Two questions of significance

1/10
The first question is: what are the resources (Edu officers, equipment, technology, etc) are available, at present, within the education dept that the PNG govt can use for mass educating elementary to secondary school students?

2/10
The second question is what is there for the Higher Education sector (DHESRT)...can the universities and colleges use their resources to conduct non-contact classes...LAN, Wifi, etc?

Challenges to be proactive

3/10

The challenge is not to let this pandemic stop this generation of children from learning this year...so how best can DHERST and Education Ministry use the available resources to ensure learning takes place even?

4/10

DHERST and the Education Department cannot be complacent. They have to be proactive. 

The schools have closed early. We know the 27th of April on only a tentative date for school to open. 


There is no need to be scared. However, there is always safety in planning. 

Vision for long-term benefit

5/10

Importantly, this pandemic will come to pass, surely. With that in mind, put in place something that is permanent, something tangible so that when this is gone, our children will still benefit from it...this is called VISION.

6/10

The govt's priority is stopping the C19 pandemic. But, it must not be distracted from its responsibility to educate *THIS GENERATION* of students!

Don't be one dimensional, Mr govt. 


You have the duty to educate the kid, if/when the schools are re-opened or not.

7/10

Having said 1 - 6, it would be better for DHERST and Education Department (in collaboration with the SoE team) to CLEARLY spell-out what is going to happen:


(1) If/when unis, colleges and schools in affected regions/country will resume term 2 school year

8/10

(2) If school are to close indefinitely, what are the LEARNING INTERVENTIONS for 2020 are in place for the children?

Interventions measures?

9/10

The task to educate children en masse is not easy in our country. 


Parents are the ones who are at the receiving end. But, at least some intervention measures put in place are better than nothing - we cannot say let us take one day at a time.

10/10

DHERST and Education Department must know called on the SOE committee and find out, for the sake of parents and students, what is there for the academic year 2020. 


END!

PNG PM Statement re. COVID-19: Special Clearence for International Travels and Schools Re-opening

The PM's statement on the 2nd of April was clear - people's movements are restricted to stop any spread of Coronavirus in PNG. International and local travels are restricted until situations have improved in the country.

There are considerations for schools to open on the 27th of April 2020.

Furthermore, the PM hinted to consideration for special clearance for international travels via Brisbane, Cairns and Singapore. Schools, churches and gathering of people in large numbers are limited in order to protect the health and welfare of the general public.

Travel and Education info is sketchy at present

Travel information is expected to be made clear following the PM's statement. This blog expects the Education Minister (the Ministry) and the Education Secretary (the Department) to make formal announcements regarding the re-opening of schools for the commencement of term 2.

School Closure & Learning Intervention

In the event that coronavirus is detected in PNG - and schools are to close indefinitely - what are the intervention measures? In an earlier post, PNG Insight discussed several ways to make homeschooling fun.

We also discuss media and tech interventions, and radio and TV learning strategies for schools and teachers to help students and parents in times of serious shut-down.

Key Points re COVID-19 PNG

Here are key points (for more info refer to the full statement below Source: PMJM Facebook page):

• 14 days shutdown expires on Monday, April 6th 2020
• Resumption of domestic flights as of Tuesday 7 April 2020 for the main centres (Pom, Hagen, Lae, Madang and Rabaul)
• All schools to remain on Term 1 (and Easter) Holidays. Term 2 commences on Monday 27 April 2020 depending COVID-19 situation in the country.
• Churches, workplaces and public gathering must now readjust to a minimal number of persons (small groups) with a safe distance of work and socialization.
• For those overseas trying to travel in, we (the govt) will do special uplift from Brisbane. Cairns and Singapore under special clearance from Controller when we establish your medical clearances and you will be isolated here (in PNG) for 14 days.

PM's Statement - reposted

Today we are living in an environment of insecurities due to coronavirus. The virus is moved when people move from place to place. The world and our next-door neighbours have a greater number of infected persons and our weak health care systems, the government had to take a responsible approach. Within that context, parliament passed an extension to the State of Emergency (SOE) for a further two months. The SOE is not meant to harm us but protect us from the spread of Corona Virus (C19). By the expiry of our earlier SOE induced 14 days shut down, the isolation strategy was to keep C19 from spreading its presence in our country. We are mapping our country on C19, thank God Yahweh so far our country is free of virus. But that does not mean we become complacent. Based on global and regional medical trend and evidence before the Government on the dangers of lack of protective measures, our country stands totally exposed to the devastation C19 can cause to our people and economy. Today’s SOE extension will have operation orders that are less restrictive depending on the situation going into the future. For instance, by next Tuesday ( if we C19 free by Monday ) we will resume all domestics flights, will allow PMVs to operate, markets to operate, work to resume etc. Our 21 provinces will be our coordinating centres and three key coordinating people are the PPC, PA and CEO of PHAs. We will push in April to have C19 centres in Weom, Kiunga, Vanimo, Telefomin and Wewak. We will also work with Bougainville Government for a post in South Bougainville. I ask all citizens that this is trying times, just because there is no infected person presently is no reason for us to be complacent. Your freedom remains but for public safety including yourself, the Controller can make an intervention at individual or group or provincial levels going into the future. Churches and workplaces and public gathering must now readjust to a minimal number of persons (small groups) with a safe distance of work and socialization. We will make further announcements including the safety of our children at schools, considering pieces of evidence, trends and presence of C19 after the 14-day isolation phase expires next Sunday. For those overseas trying to travel in, we will do special uplift from Brisbane and Cairns and Singapore under special clearance from Controller when we establish your medical clearances and you will be isolated here for 14 days. God bless PNG. JMPM! Source: 2nd April 2020, Facebook

Home-schooling: Keeping kids up to speed during school closure

Posted this as a thread on Twitter to help parents at this time of Coronavirus, COVID-19, school closure. Schools are struggling to cope with the demand for online learning. Parents are worried about what else their kids are missing from school. 

There are lots of things that teachers at schools do that parents cannot replicate at home. Well, that is why parents send their kids to schools in the first place.

Competency levels: Numeracy, Reading and Writing

The concepts taught at schools (elementary, primary and secondary) are related and increase in complexity as a child passes through the education leader.

Identifying the basic skills and knowledge and relay them effectively is what teachers are known for. That is why you can not replace a teacher unless you know exactly what you are doing when it comes to 'teaching'.

At this unprecedented time, there is no choice but to help the children learn as much as they can before moving on to the next grade-level at school. 

That means that the children must learn, know and apply the basic skills and knowledge at the current grade-level.

School syllabus

There is a way to identify what the kids are expected to know at school, specifically at the grade-level. And, that is through the school syllabus. 


PNG National Department of Education has a good collection of PNG schools syllabi from elementary to primary and secondary schools.

10 tips to help kids learn during school closure

Here are 10 tips to identify the skills and knowledge kids are expected to know. 

1. Get a school syllabus and find out what your child is expected to know at grade level.

2. Talk to your child's teacher about what s/he is learning in class this term. Or check the child's exercise books.

3. Identify a few key areas.

4. Focus on Numeracy and Literacy key areas - avoid introducing ideas outside of the school syllabus.

5. Introduce they 'key areas' from the school syllabus at random, during plays or when having casual chat with kids..make it fun

6. Emphasis on downtime and reading.

7. Find out fun ways to introduce the timetable. Challenge kids to learn 6, 7 and 8 tables by the 'recall' method.

8. Introduce life skills like making bilum, sewing, gardening, painting, etc

9. Have a list of things to do and reward system.

10. Chat with them. Get to know your child.

PNG Education Department Asked to Shut School Early for Two Weeks Due to COVID-19

It is reassuring to learn that on Sunday (22 March 2020), the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea laid out the plan for the fight against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. 

Together we fight against COVID-2019

PNG Insight raised the question of school closure and possible implications on students' learning.  Read the two articles earlier: 

• Will PNG Schools Shutdown due to Coronavirus COVID-2019

• Govt: Clear and Precise Response to Coronavirus Implication on Education Calendar

Regardless of the people's expectations of the leaders in the government, today is a time to come together and fight as a team - leaders and people together as one. 

PNG PM laid-out 13 control-measures to limit and stop movement of people across the international, national and provincial borders; as well as among people within the community in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Are schools closing?

The Prime Minister made it absolutely clear that schools should close early for Term 1 holiday on Monday, 23 March 2020.

Of the 13 resolutions at the emergency parliamentary council meeting, point 8 in the press release read:

"8. Education and Higher Education departments are asked to advance first term holiday as of tomorrow 23rd of March and the next 14 days are to be school holidays". [PM Press Release, Sunday 20/03/2020]

It appears that the students will have an early 2-week holiday whilst the govt assesses the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Australia issue level 4 travel restriction

The Australian High Commission in PNG issued a level 4 security warning - the highest travel warning from a scale of 1 to 4. 

AUSTRALIAN H/C in PNG - LEVEL 4 TRAVEL RESTRICTION

Below is the PM's press release of the 13-point plans

Today based on advice from the COVID-19 National Operation Centre (NOC 19) and National Security Council (NSC) recommendations, the National Executive Council (NEC) in an emergency meeting has decided on the following measures in light of the first positive case of COVID-19 in our country.

This is a national security issue now and not just a health issue but a cross-cutting issue including the effect on economy, law and order and education of our children amongst other effects. Hence the relevance of the following measures.

So far we have done trace of the person that came into our country and he remains to date our only positive person who is in isolation and recovering but to clearly demarcate our country from the spread and for Government to take stock from this biosecurity breach, we are taking the following measures.

 1. Confirm this first case and it’s the impact to ensure we contain its impact including treating, curing and sending the victim back to Australia.

 2. Taking stock of all entry into PNG after 7th of March to ensure all are checked, tested and status of health affirmed. All who have come in or those that have come in contact with those who came into PNG since 7th of March are to report to the hotline below.

 3. Declare a State of Emergency for 30 days in which the Commissioner of Police will assume control assisted by a callout placed on the military to ensure lawful order, control and response to SOE control measures.

 4. Following on our stop of incoming international flights, we now stopping all domestic flights for the next 14 days starting on Tuesday this week.

 5. We direct that as of Tuesday 24th March 2020, no Public transportation of people and no movement from one province to another for a 14 day period. Only approved cargo and medicine and police /military personal will be moving.

 6. The Provincial Governors and their Provincial Administrators with Provincial Police Commanders with the respective Provincial Health Authorities will be control points in all province.

 7. All heads of departments and private companies are to embrace safe workplace practice and non-essential staff are asked to stay at home for the next 14 days.

 8. Education and Higher Education departments are asked to advance first term holiday as of tomorrow 23rd of March and the next 14 days are to be school holidays.

 9. All who have come into the country as from the 7th of March 2020 or those who made contact with those who came into the country from that date please report, call or text to the hotline below.

 10. No border crossing by foot or canoe and police /army presence in border areas will be stepped up.

 11. Banks and financial institutions and super funds will be mobilised to work with Government on economic packages in this downtime.

 12. The SOE controller through the office of Prime Minister will be the only official point of releasing statements to the public.

 13. The SOE controller will issue on details on how citizens and our country respond and behalf in this time and breach of those will be punished as an offence in times of emergency.

We have now mapped the country into zones to isolate this virus from spreading. 

• The mid PNG zone from Morobe and Madang Provinces into the entire highlands,
• the Central Papua (including NCD, Central and Gulf), 
• the Niugini Island Zone, 
• the Sepik Zone, 
• the Western Border Zone and 
• the Bougainville Zone.

The SOE commander will delicate the PPCs to police the zones to ensure lawful abiding to this control measures.

We will get through this phase, we ask from the corporation from all citizens, residents and businesses houses.

God bless PNG.

Press C19/ 22.03.20 | Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape

Govt: Clear and Precise Response to Coronavirus Implication on Education Calendar

A response to our question Will PNG School Close Because of Coronavirus? The comments are from the senior educationist and former Education Secretary Dr Michael Tapo EdD. 

Valuable insight into the likely impacts of Coronavirus on Education and what can be done...

Foremost, before discussing closing the schools or not to close, think about the interconnectedness of the economy, social, educational, trade, technology, scientific knowledge, and many challenges of Papua New Guinea as a country and its people.

Paying the teachers while they are not working, school time calendar, examinations, public views and comments, and others are just as pertinent before a final decision is made.

Coronavirus: Interdepartmental communication

Coronavirus matter is a 'national disaster' and not regular health and hygiene matter. 

Current law allows health and education officials such as the two departmental heads to communicate and reach the verdict. 

Next, the National Education Board decides the final outcome. The Education Minister is advised who then, as the Minister responsible, informs the NEC to close or not to close.

Legislative responses and disaster management 

Beyond the decision to close the schools is that there are serious considerations by the Parliament. The members of government and opposition should join forces to legislate laws for the Coronavirus as a national disaster. This must be immediate and urgent because of its massive great consequences.

This virus will wipe out a percentage of our people once they are infected and spreads widely. Papua New Guinea absorptive capacity right now cannot control the spread of virus amongst members of communities, at the village, districts, rural areas and towns. 

Coronavirus is a matter of life and death to every member of Papua New Guinean society as a nation. 

Coronavirus management efforts overseas 

For instance, the developed countries like UK, USA, Australia, France, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, China and South Korea and many others have taken quick actions. 

These nations, their politicians, virus medical experts and scientists are spending every day to find ways to fight against the Coronavirus. 

They recommend clear and precise laws and policies for members of the public and its total citizens to understand and comply.

Coronavirus cannot be treated to date. It may take at least two to three years to find the dine to cure it completely. Worldwide 200,000 are infected. 8,000 people as of today's date have died.

No one, and I stress no one, is immune to Coronavirus. There is no cure for this virus. It is passed on from persons-to-persons.

Social media information can cause confusion and panic as experienced by the countries mentioned above.

Legislative responses – urgent 

I recommend authorities and leaders in responsible positions from the Health Department, Provincial Government, Organic Law, Education Act, and Parliamentary Acts are diligent. 

This virus has massive nation-wide consequences and challenges the application, implementation and implications of these regulations.

New laws must be approved to deal with this virus. The only Directive must be from the government and no one else.

Closing schools - decision

In the case of the decision to close the school, the new law must be introduced alongside 'National Disaster” law to realistically control the Coronavirus Pandemic.

ABC website is recommended for Papua New Guinea policymakers, health officials, hospitals, governors of provinces and school authorities, radio and TV stations to have access to 

• the latest evidence-based information, 
• the types of the required new legislation, and 
• the questions of what, when, how and where, the national and provincial government can and or cannot do.

The comment was updated for easy reading. Published with permission from the writer.

RECOMMENDED READING: 

Schools Shutdown due to Coronavirus COVID-2019

JOIN PNG INSIGHT ON TWITTER

Prime minister, summon the heads of state agencies and amenities together: water, power, telecom, transport, security...

Put in place an emergency plan in cases of complete shut down and isolation...how to get the basic amemnities going and keep the towns and cities safe.

— P.N.G. Insight (@PNG_Insight) March 19, 2020

Schools Shutdown due to Coronavirus COVID-2019

Schools in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji are taking measures to address the spread of the coronavirus in the event that cases are detected near the pupils and people they are in contact with.

IMAGE: Coronavirus-map 2020

Major news reports have indicated that schools in Japan, the US, the UK and the Pacific are talking about measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus among children.

In fact, moves were made to shut down schools amid coronavirus detection. 

IMAGE: MAIL ONLINE UK

The Nine News reported that two schools have shut down in Australia due to confirmed cases of coronavirus among their students, (St Patrick's Marist College and Willoughby Girls School corona shut down, Nine News). 

Coronavirus safety measures

There are certain prevention measures individuals can take to make it safe for themselves and others around them. This includes:

• washing hands thoroughly - refer to the hand-washing technique below
• keeping your distance from others - recommended 1 to 2 metres apart
• avoid using publicly shared items like lime/kambang and especially money notes and coins - resort to using cards as much as possible at this time
• limit attendance to public gatherings and public places where there is a large number of incoming and outgoing traffic such as airports and bus stops. 

Above all, look out for each other, the elderly and children. 

UPDATED: Will school close because of coronavirus?

PNG Schools, communities and coronavirus watch

Remoteness and less outside contact is the best friend for PNG schools. In villages and outstations, the population have less contact with outsiders. 

That makes it fairly safe.

But, many towns and cities have contact with travellers coming in from Port Moresby, Lae and other tourist hotspots in the country are among the risk group. And, they are likely to spread the virus to local communities and school children.

Having said that, the local communities need to have some kind of Community Watch for people who are travelling into the local villages and communities from the major centres.

There is no need for fear.

However, a concerted effort to contain the spread of coronavirus in villages and remote communities is urgent.

School and community hygiene and coronavirus   - important

Perhaps it is important to limit contact with others as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus if/when a case happens to surface in the country and in a local area.

Meanwhile, there are basic health and hygiene practices students can do to stay safe from coronavirus in schools. Among them is washing hands with soap whilst singing “Happy Birthday to Me’.

Wash you hands lyrics and infographics online

If you want to sing to your favourite song, check this brilliant website called WashYourHandsLyrics. Basically, you type the song title/singer name and the app puts the lyrics onto the NHS handwashing infographics. 

Right now the Bohemian Rhapsody is popular. Check out these PNG Unity songs to create your own infographics and lyrics. 

The high-risk group – kids and elderly

The coronavirus COVID-2019 related deaths recorded are among the elderly people and school (younger) children. This group needs attention. 

The elderly and young children may not be the likely group to have had vast exposure to the public and hence exposed to coronavirus. But, they can be infected through a family member or others close to them who may have had exposure to coronavirus, COVID-2019.

Therefore, able-bodied people need to take preventative measures seriously to prevent any spread of the virus to their household.

Everyone needs to take care of each other.

School shutdown due to coronavirus - no need to panic

There is NO case of confirmed coronavirus in PNG. A FAKE online map showed a red mark on PNG map. 

No need to believe it.

Unless the local PNG health authorities mentioned a case of coronavirus in PNG, there is absolutely no need to panic.

Schools are not shutting down in PNG. Students are going to schools and teachers are teaching. However, it is better to have contingency plans in place. 

That means that the school Board and managers should have a ‘list of things to do’ if/when there is a corona-case detected nearby.

So, planning for school shutdown should be happening: what to do, how to keep learning going, and how long to shut the school.

Should PNG Schools be worried - yes

Surely. Any widespread infection is a course for public concern. PNG schools should definitely be worried, but not scared.

No need to rush to the shops and fight over toilet papers or shut schools down just because there is a case of cold flu in the school.

As mentioned, close schools and limit exposures to public gatherings IF there is a clear case of the viral coronavirus breakout in PNG. 

But, schools must not close because of rumours and scaremongering.

Life must go on as normal.

Coronavirus Contigency Plan for School Closure - No School Closed Yet

CORONAVIRUS AND POSSIBILITY FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE - IS IT LIKELY?

Many countries closed their schools and universities because of the fear of infections among their students. Nearby, Australia has closed some schools in several states. 

Fiji and the Solomon Island are taking steps to CONTAIN the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-2019. 

PNG has also restricted flights and visits coming into the country. But, has the country and the Education Department spell-out any contingency plans in the event schools closed?

We asked the question in our latest article - "Will PNG Schools Close Because of Coronavirus?"

Click the link to the article and participate in the discussion.

Stay safe. 

Non-Payment of Tuition Fees | "Anyone who gets in the way of the delivery of free education will be moved aside..."PNG PM.

THE GOVERNMENT IS PAYING K300 SCHOOL FEE PER CHILD AND EXPECTS SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE TILL ACADEMIC YEAR ENDS?

It is good to see PNG government is responding quickly to the news about schools closure. However, there are certain facts and figures we, as stakeholders, need to bear in mind.

1) The government allocated K605 million to fund Tuition Fee Free education policy. With this funding, schools were directed by both education minister and secretary for National Department of Education not to charge any other fees like the project fees.

2) K605 million has been paid in two instalments: first component (K302.5) for terms one and two, and second K302.5 million for terms three and four. This is supposed to be paid with no strings attached.

3) Reports have indicated that only 70% (K211.75 million) of the first component was paid to receiving schools. The remaining 30% (K90.75 million) was now released to schools according to the Post Courier report below. Why is it released now, when some schools have closed early for term one holiday due to lack of funds? Who is the government blaming? Would schools have closed prematurely if the government released the first component in full?

4) Perhaps this is an important question: 'Are we likely to see schools closing before the end of term two?' I think yes because 70% the first component was not enough to take many schools through to the end of term one. Remaining 30% paid recently was just a drop in the ocean to complete term 2, not sufficient for a term. 

5) All in the good name of the government, this K605 million was not enough. With a national school population of 1.9 million students, the government has planned to pay about K300 school fee per child (that was for the whole year) and expected the schools to continue without closure. 

The PM, Education Minister and NDoE secretary can go dancing to the tune of K605 million for free education, but it trickles down to nothing when you have a students' population near 2 million.  

It was clear that the investigation into any allegation of abuse of TFF funds, commissioned  and talked about by the Chief Secretary of Government, would have to be withdrawn as it  was unlikely to fix the problem. It would only uncover the weak areas and threw mud at the government. 

If the government wants to see smooth flow of academic year, it must either double the TFF subsidy or allow for parents to pay half the school fees and project fees.

It is, also, time to stop the Education Minister and his department secretary from meddling with the affairs of provincial education authorities or school board of management. Let the school BoGs, principals and PEAs do their jobs as they have done before the introduction of TFF (free) education policy.

BY ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has directed that all outstanding school fee subsidies be made direct to individual schools by this week.

He said to facilitate these payments, K90 million was drawn down last Friday to pay the remainder of tuition fee free funding for the first two terms of the current school year.

Mr O’Neill outlined this plan of action that was being delivered alongside the investigation commissioned by Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc that was seeking answers to the possibility of misappropriation of school fees.

He said the investigation included where the unaccounted funds had gone, but of greater urgency the commission would provide details of schools that had been cut short of funds so that they could be paid direct by the Government this week.

"The delivery of tuition free education is a cornerstone policy of our Government and we will not let this be interrupted by incompetence or mismanagement," he said.

"We promised the people of this nation that we would get their children into school and this is what we are doing.

"Anyone who gets in the way of the delivery of free education will be moved aside and we will deliver these school fees for our families.

"I have directed that all schools still awaiting their school fee subsidy will receive this money direct from the Government this week. There is no reason for any school not to open for the new school term.

"Education is a right for all children of Papua New Guinea and our Government will continue to implement reform to ensure our children can attend school regardless of their economic situation."

He said the list of schools that had not received their full funding was being finalised and outstanding money would be released direct to schools in the coming days.

He was responding to reports last week that 13,000 public schools will close in term two due to non-payment of free tuition fee subsidy.