Govt releases funds for farmers, schools

GOVERNMENT has released K1.284 billion to cater for the outstanding payments to farmers under the 2020/2021 farming season and also r for the 2022 first quarter operational support for public schools.

According to a statement released by secretary to the treasury Felix Nkulukusa, K960 million was meant for outstanding payments to farmers under the 2020/2021 farming season, and K324 million was the 2022 first quarter operational support fund for public schools aimed at facilitating the implementation of free education for all learners at early childhood, primary, and secondary education levels.

Mr Nkulukusa said the K324 million was aimed at reaching closer to free education by abolishing tuition, Parent Teachers Association, and examination fees that learners used to pay in public schools.

He said to this end, grants from the Government to public schools had been increased to meet the operational costs that were previously financed by the abolished fees.

Mr Nkulukusa said the funds would be paid directly to the bank account of each individual school, country-wide, to ensure that proper operational arrangements are made before the opening of schools for the first term of 2022.

He said the Treasury had also commenced capacity building programmes on public resource management. The first target being the teaching staff, country-wide, who were being oriented on the handling of the operational support fund for public schools, to ensure that there is prudence in the management of the increased resources.