The Education Ministry is currently reviewing the grant allocation to schools based on the amount of students that the schools have enrolled.
Education Minister, Doctor Mahendra Reddy said this issue will be discussed further as he says based on their assessment, the small schools may require more funding than the current allocation.
Doctor Reddy said the usage of the funds is also being analysed.
Meanwhile the Leader of Opposition, Ro Teimumu Kepa said the $250 per child for primary schools is not enough as there are other services provided by the schools like swimming classes, boys scouts and girl guides.
She said the Opposition is concerned that Veiuto Primary School was not allowed to hold it’s fundraising activity over the weekend.
Ro Teimumu said to get quality education, more money is required by the schools.
When questioned on what is the Opposition solution in this situation, she said that this should be paid by the parents or schools have to find money from somewhere.
For Veiuto Primary School, the school management said they need over $390 per child to run the school.
They received $250 per child from the government and also asked for $80 user pay levy per child from the parents earlier this year.
They also wanted to have a major fundraising activity last Saturday.
Meanwhile the Education Minister said schools have to show the Ministry how they have spent the money given to them by the government and what they want.
Doctor Reddy also said Ro Teimumu does not have any research paper to back her argument.
He said the government’s aim is to ensure that extra burden is not put on the students and their parents.
In this year’s National Budget, the government allocated $34 million for primary schools.
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama had said that schools will receive $250 a year per child to cover the full cost of tuition.
This is a dramatic increase from the $30 per child that Government used to spend to subsidise tuition fees.
Out of this $250 dollars, $30 goes towards administration and office operations, $50 for the building levy and maintenance, $45 for the stationary levy, $45 for the computer levy, $45 for the library levy, and $45 for the physical education, music and arts and crafts levy.
This is an initiative that should benefit the parents and families of 136,000 primary school students.
For secondary schools, Government currently provides $31.5 million for tuition fees.
Forms 3 and 4 get a payment of $440 per student instead of the $290 previously paid, Forms 5 and 6 attract a payment of $485 per student and Form 7 attracts a payment of $610 per student.
This benefits the parents and families of 66,000 secondary school students.
