‘No parent will pay any extra cent’
MINISTER for Education Rosy Akbar has assured parents and guardians they will not pay any extra money despite the reduction in the education grant for each student by the ministry.
While speaking in Lautoka on Friday evening, she said there had been a lot of questions raised about the impact that the ministry’s budgetary allocation would have on students and parents.
“This week we have been going around the budgetary reduction that the Ministry of Education has had and as a result we’ve had a reduction in our education grant,” she said.
“I can assure all of our parents and students that you will not have to fork out any extra cent for your children’s education.
“The media has been calling and asking me ‘now that the education grant has been reduced, will the parents have to pay something?’
“You have my word that parents and students can continue with the education of their children since 2015.
“No parent will pay any extra cent for the education of their children and I hope that I can put this issue to rest.”
Ms Akbar was responding to concerns from parents and teacher unions about the reduction in education grant for each student.
According to the ministry, there was an $18 cut in grant for each primary school student. For secondary schools, the grant would be reduced depending on the student roll each year.
For more information, parents and guardians have been advised to contact the ministry or visit the Ministry of Education website.