The Ministry of General Education and Instruction on Tuesday threatened to punish head teachers of government-aided schools still charging fees following the introduction of free education.
Awut Deng Acuil, the Minister of General Education and Instruction said the payments are illegal and unauthorized, adding that they will institute legal action against head teachers found violating the government policy on free education.
“Disciplinary action will be taken against any head teacher of a state school that demands payment from parents or school children,” Deng said.
On 6th February 2023, President Salva Kiir declared free primary education and directed the Ministry of General Education and Instruction, the Ministry of Finance, and the development partners to implement it in all public schools.
Deng directed head teachers of schools such as Atlabara East Primary School, Malakia Primary School, and Juba One Girls’ Primary School to refund the money they obtained from parents.
These schools are believed to have forced the parents to pay between SSP 30,000 to SSP 35,000 per child.
The National Ministry of Finance and Planning already released the first tranche of the capitation grant amounting to SSP 1 billion to public schools to facilitate free education.
“There is a terrible violation and it has come to our notice, it may be seen in many schools in ten states and three administrative areas,” Martin Tako Moyi, Deputy Minister of General Education and Instruction said.
