The Education Minister has made it clear that no school will get the 2014 school fees allocation this year.

Filipe Bole said everyone should understand that the ministry will have the funds in January 2014.


Some schools in the country are still asking parents to make advance payments for school fees next year if they want places for their children in the school.

One of the schools is Veiuto Primary and the Chairperson of the school's Parents and Teachers Association, Selina Kuruleca said they have no option but to ask for advance payments to prepare the school for next year.

Kuruleca said they now want a written undertaking from the Ministry of Education that they can take to all the school's suppliers stating that the funds will be released to Veiuto Primary in January 2014. 


The Education Ministry has clearly stated that no school should ask for next year's fees as the government has announced that there will be free education for primary and secondary schools from 2014. 

For primary schools, the government has allocated $250 per child for their education needs next year.

The Education Minister said the criteria is set and there will be no written undertaking as everyone knows that primary and secondary education will be free. 
 

Meanwhile Kuruleca also said Veiuto Primary School needs more than $250 per child. 

She said that the school AGM agreed that Veiuto Primary needs $300 per child in 2014.

Kuruleca said they are trying to have discussions on this issue with the Education Ministry.

Story by: Vijay Narayan and Filipe Naikaso