By DALCY LULUA
THE Department of Education (DoE) through Minister Lucas Dekena have announced over the week that the Marape-Rosso Government is renaming the “Government Tuition Fee Subsidy (GTFS)” as “Government Free Education Policy (GFEP)”.
“The new policy, titled Government Tuition-Free Subsidy, or GTFS that was used from 2020 to 2024 is renamed as Government Free Education Policy, GFEP, from 2025 onwards,” says Minister Dekena.
“The former title has not been applicable since 2022, when the government paid the full fees, and did not require any parental contribution,” said the Minister.
He stressed that the Marape-Rosso Government since 2022, expanded the budget with the inclusion of a project fee grant component to further relieve families from the burden of economic hardships.
Minister Dekena said this special intervention will continue in 2025.
He also added that the government regards education sector as one of its top priorities, because education is the foundation for economic prosperity, social justice, and overall well-being of the society.
Minister Dekena also highlighted that since 2012, the government’s tuition fee grants under GTFS, has used enrolment numbers and the standard rate to pay student grants, irrespective of geographical locality.
He said in 2025, this policy will change to pay students based on locality.
“Schools to be paid based on PNG Access Remote Index (PARI) categories set by National Economic Fiscal Commission (NEFC).
“The Department of Education (DoE) is undertaking a Unit Cost Study in 2024, and it has provided us different levels of fees according to PARI- namely, 1) highly accessible, 2) accessible, 3) moderately accessible, 4) remote, 5) very remote, and 6) extremely remote.
“This simply means the grant, a child is attending a primary school in NCD, Rigo, and Rossell Island, will all be different.
“I have approved this, and it is more equitable,” said the Minister.
He said this policy translates the government’s desire to share our collective resources with every citizen, and without prejudice of tribal connections, religion, gender, and geographical or political associations.”
Secretary for Education Dr Uke Kombra commended the Minister for his position to ensure the new policy come into play.
“I commend the Minister for his position to ensure the equitable policy in playing a part in the GFEP policy,” Dr. Kombra said.
“For the first time this year, the government free education policy will pay schools and pay students according to where they are.
“That’s a very big shift in government policy,” he added.
