The Education Department released their final notice approved by the Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra, to Head Teachers and Principles to stop receiving addition School fees from student’s parent and guardians. This is following the Governments paid of amount of K316 million to cover for term1 of 2024 tuition, boarding and project fees for every student. The funds were released directly to the to school accounts or via provincial trust accounts last week Thursday and Friday. Despite official instructions for students not to be charged additional school fees and denying their right to classes, we are getting many reports of defiant heads of schools. To avoid the confusion and chaos in the first week of school, from Monday 5th February 2024, the head teachers will be dealt with. Dept inspectors will be allocated in local schools, responsible for acting towards defiant Head Teachers. Charging and suspending defiant head teachers or principals without pay effective immediately. The Education Department warns head teacher, to avoid getting suspended or charged. 1. Stop immediately the collection of additional fees. 2. Provide official Letters to parents/guardians to stop paying any further fees. 3. Fees collected already are refunded. After the date given, if such actions are still active, student’s parents, guardians and the public must report local Inspectors with evidence of receipts and deposit forms. And without the presence of a local inspector, you can use these contacts. Email: gtfinfo@education.gov.pg / Phones 3288800/ 7266881/ 7577792 Genuine school projects must submit their project to the P&C, then to PEB or NEB specifying the project, the budget, its duration for completion and get a written PEB or PEB approval to collect any fees. PEB should not require fees. Allowing P&C of each school to submit and justify the feels to be collected. PEBs must approve project if genuine, consistent with SLIP, is affordable and fees will be collected on a voluntary basis and over a period of time.