To: All parents, School Heads, Governing Boards and Education Authorities
1. Introduction
This Ministerial Policy Statement (MPs) announces the Government Tuition Fee (GTF) Policy for 2022. The previous Government Fee Subsidy policy of 2020 and 2021 is revised with the Government paying full fess in 2022.
The Government has increased funding to pay 100% school fees for students from elementary to grade 12 in 2022 considering the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, citizens and families.
2. Education Remains the Governments Priority
Education remains a priority for next year with increased budget support to ensure quality education is provided to all citizens and especially school aged children.
The government is committed to giving every child 13 years of complete education with emphasis on standard and quality under a standard based curriculum that provides platform to access children’s creativity and performance. Teachers will be supported in upgrading professional skills and knowledge to continue making progress to ensure the benchmark and content standards are achieved.
The Government intends to ensure the 1-6-6 school structure is implemented from 2022 onwards in which elementary schools move Grade 1 and 2 into primary schools and Grade 7 and 8 under High Schools; a robust standards assurance system maintained through school inspection system; multiple pathways with FODE and VET for students is provided, Schools of Excellence implemented; Early Childhood education formalized, and schools functioning to sustained through full funding from Government.
3: Government Tuition Fee Policy
A notable increase in allocation to education in the Schools Grants budget from K486 million in 2021 to K632 million in 2022.
In 2020, the Marape/Basil Government embarked on a partnership with parents and stakeholders in sharing the cost of education to make people responsible and hardworking. This encouraged parents/guardians to till their land and to be more productive and grow the economy. However, given the effect of Covid-19 AND its consequential impact on lives and the economy, the Government has deliberately increased funding to pay 100% school fees for students from elementary to grade 12 in 2022. This is a huge relief to parents and guardians who are struggling to meet school fees. There will be no schools tuition fee to be paid by parents in 2022.
He GTF policy continues to encourage parents to assist schools in self-reliance programs and projects while the Government will invest in raising the quality of education, building more schools, and making school managers and boards more accountable.
4: GTF Funding for 2022
The Government Tuition Fee (GTF) policy 2022 is allocated K632 million, in increase of K140 million from 2021. The policy maintains two components:
- School Operational and Functional Grant of K506.6 millions (80%) and
- Commodity Component of K126.4 million (20%).
We intend to deliver the Commodity Component in partnership with provinces after procurement processes are established.
5: Special Support to Remote Schools
The Government is considerate and for the first time relieving the hardship faced by the very remote schools in the country. The Government is funding a remote equity of 10% for transportation costs. This will be paid to schools under the category of very remote schools identified by Papua New Guinea Access Remote Index (PARI)
6: 2021 Tuition Cost and National Education Board (NEB) Maximum Fee Limits
The NEB Maximum Fee limits for 2022 remains the same as in 2021. The table below presents the total fees payable by Government to all sectors under the two policy components.
Table 1. Total Fees Allocation under the Policy Components
7: Payment Schedule
The Government intends to pay Term 1 and 2 funding in Quarter 1 at the start of school year for all schools. The parents assist with other support fees such as Project Fees and other education association costs for each child.
8: Project Fees
Schools are allowed to collect Project Fees, but they must follow very strict appro9ved 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), Project Plan, Scope and Budget with a P&C Association agreement.
Where Project Fees are to be collected, it must be less than 20% of the Maximum Fees limit per student rate set by the National Education Board as shown below.
Table 2: Project Fees Limit for 2022
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.
Preparatory/Elementary -K5.00
Primary-K7.00
Higher/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 attening 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 involve in any self-sustaining activities to support schools.
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 int the general education sector, within their respective jurisdictions. In the spirit of partnership, we urge very Provincial Government and District Development Authority to help their schools development and sustenance plans.
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. This arrangement will be reviewed in 2022.
12: Mandatory Self-Reliance for Schools to raise 10% of its revenue.
Self-reliance is a standing policy of the department. However, the 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 recommendations at its last meeting, I direct every school to generate 10% of its school budget through self-reliance projects. Schools maintain this direction in 2022.
13: Conclusion
The State is committed to education and pays the bulk of the cost of education for each child through teachers salaries, teacher training, standards assurance, curriculum and examinations, infrastructure, and grants, apart from the GTF policy funding.
The Government’s Tuition Fee Policy that advocates sharing the cost of education is committing to pay full fees for all students in 2022 in the light of the downturn in economy and parents struggles to maintain the partnership. The commitment to every student receiving quality education under a standard based education, a 1-6-6 school structure, a robust standards assurance system, emphasis on Early Childhood Education (ECE) and a system of education catering for the exceptionally gifted students through a home grown but globally comparable curriculum in STEM education in our national schools of excellence.
I urge all parents and stakeholders for your continuous support in other ways than tuition fees to ensure schools remain operational through out the year in 2022.
Any further explanation of the policy can be obtained from the Department of Education website: www.education.gov.pg or sending an email to : gtfsinfor@education.gov.pg or calling phones: 328 888 00 /73350746/7577792/72668181
Authorized by:
Hon.Jimmy Uguro, MP
Minister for Education
13 December 2022
