Parents can start preparing their children for Term One classes from Jan 31 without having to worry about paying fees as the Government has released K316 million for its free education funding.
Education Minister Jimmy Uguro told The National that the Government released the funds yesterday which should be in schools’ bank accounts from next week.
Teachers resume duties on Jan 24. Classes proper begin on Jan 31.
The Government is bringing back its free education policy this year, after removing it in 2020 and 2021, and is paying the tuition fees of students from pre-school to grade 12.
The K316 million is for term one and term two.
Uguro said it would be a relief for parents who had been enjoying the Government’s free education policy from 2012 until the end of 2019.
In 2020 and 2021, they were told to pay 37 per cent of tuition fees while the Government paid 63 per cent.
But Uguro said parents still had a role to play in their children’s education.
Project fees imposed by some schools are not compulsory and it is up to each provincial education board (PEB) to implement them.
The PEB is the only authority allowed to approve project fees in a province after ensuring schools meet specific requirements.
Parents have a responsibility to meet the project fees (which) schools may ask for (to fund) special projects.
It is up to the PEB or the board of management.
Minister Uguro
The education sector has been allocated K632 million in the 2022 national budget, compared to K486 million in 2021.
Students in pre-school up to grade 12 attending schools recognized by the Government are exempted from paying tuition fees.
Education secretary Dr Uke Kombra last month reiterated that parents would still be required to pay project fees and other necessary fees required by schools.
Kombra said the Education Department would continue to demand more from the Government because the number of students sitting examinations was increasing every year.
He urged the Government to continue supporting education as it is “the backbone of the country”.