Figures at the New Ireland subsidy unit indicate that over K250,000 in cheques are being held back as some schools have failed to submit acquittals of previous expenditure.
Deputy Governor and provincial executive council chairperson for education, Florence Stocken, revealed this when responding to headmasters who threatened to suspend classes last week over a lack of operational funds.
Headmasters of primary schools had reportedly reached a consensus at a meeting at Usil Primary School to close down their schools out of frustration over lack of funding releases from the subsidy unit.
But Stocken said while headmasters might be concerned about sustainability of their schools, they were duty bound to acquit public funds that came under their control.
She said indications from the subsidy unit showed that over half of the 233 primary schools had difficulty acquitting funds.
The policy is very clear from the start, schools are required to acquit their funds on a quarterly basis to qualify for the next allocation. Short of this, funds will be held back until schools comply.
Why should children be made to suffer loss of education because of blatant disregard of duties by headmasters and school management boards? This is negligence of responsibility and contrary to the Public Finance Management Act and headmasters who are public servants must adhere.
Florence Stocken
She said government was in the process of updating funding for the rest of the year for all schools and institutions throughout the province and PNG.
She commended schools in the province that had managed their funds prudently and provided timely acquittals.
Stocken encouraged headmasters and schools to resolve their issues with the subsidy unit.
Namatanai Primary School vice chairman Coleman Tamsak said headmasters and schools that failed to comply with the policy and the Public Finance Management Act had no excuse to cry foul over the lack of funding.
He said they had themselves to blame for their lack of prudent management and accountability.
There are numerous reports of misuse and misapplication of these school funds by headmasters and school boards. And this is unfair on the children and parents because it defeats the purpose for which the free education policy was set up.
Coleman Tamsak
Tamsak said headmasters and schools must check their own management boards on how monies were spent before pointing fingers at the provincial government and the subsidy office.