INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENT 01/2025
HON. JAMES MARAPE, MP HON. LUCAS DEKENA, MP
PRIME MINISTER MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
2025 GOVERNMENT FREE EDUCATION POLICY FOR SCHOOLS IN THE GENERAL
EDUCATION SECTOR
TO: ALL PARENTS, HEADS OF SCHOOLS , SCHOOL BOARDS AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES.
1.INTRODUCTION 6.PROJECT FEES
This Ministerial Policy Statement (MPS) announces the Government Free Education Policy (GFEP) for 2025. The The government will continue to fund project fees in 2025. An allocation of K160 million is under the Governments
Government Free Education Policy remains in 2025 with the government paying the full in tuition fees for all Family Assistance Package and it will be paid directly as a grant into school accounts. Allocation to schools will
students in the general education sector. The Government has been committed to providing grants to all schools be based on each school’s enrolment, the National Education Board fee limit and total funds available. Every
since 2012 to ensure every child receives 13 years of quality education. school must have a School Learning and Improvement Plan (SLIP) to plan and spend the project fees grants.
Schools that need additional funds for special capital projects MUST follow the process prescribed by a Secretary
The Marape Rosso government has since 2022, expanded the budget with the inclusion of a project fee grant Circular.
component to further relieve families from the burden of economic hardships. This special intervention will
continue in 2025. 7.PARENTAL CONTRIBUTION TO SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Schools may also collect a Parental Contribution for a specific school project per its SLIP. This project fee is an
This MPS highlights the critical policy directions that will be clarified in a subsequent Secretary’s Circular. optional fee and is not compulsory fee. The step to follow to collect Parental Contributions will be specified in a
Secretary’s Circular. No school is to collect parental contributions for a project without PEB’s or NEB’s approval.
2.EDUCATION REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITY. Parents should not contribute to projects not approved by PEBS or NEB.
2.1.The Marape/Rosso Government has education as one of its top priorities, because education is foundational
for economic prosperity, social justice, and the overall well-being of a society. Hence, this policy translates 8.CHURCH AGENCY FEES
the government’s desire to share our collective resources with every citizen and without prejudice of tribal Church agency fees are to be paid by each student attending a church agency school as per the Education Act,
connections, religion, gender and geographical or pollical associations. 1983. Schools will determine and pay the respective agency based on enrolment and NEB set Agency fee limit to
be prescribed by a Secretary’s Circular.
2.2.Through the government’s commitment every child in Early Childhood Centres, Primary Schools, High
Schools, Secondary Schools, National Schools of Excellence, Vocational Training Centres, Inclusive Education 9.PERMITTED/PRIVATE SCHOOLS FEES
Resource Centres, and Flexible Open and Distance Education centers will receive free education. Meaning The National Government will pay a grant of K100 per child for PNG citizens enrolled in an approved and registered
students enrolling in these schools will enroll and remain in school without parents struggling to pay any form Permitted School that is registered with the National Department of Education. (Refer to Secretary’s Circular
of school fees. No.15/2024). A NEC submission will be made for a determination to reintroduce the Rebate Policy.
2.3.Every child has the right to education. Therefore, this government outlaws and bans any head of schools and 10.PHASING OUT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
school board from refusing, restricting and removing any child from school due to non-payment school fees and Consistent with the 1- 6 – 6 School Restructure Policy (see also MPS 03/2024 elementary schools will be phased
project fees. out and amalgamated with primary schools this year. Hence, elementary schools will no longer receive GFEP
grants, but respective GFEP grants will be paid to the central primary school.
3.THE GOVERNMENT FREE EDUCATION POLICY
3.1.New Policy Title” Government Free Education Policy”. 11.EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTRES
The policy title “Government Tuition Fee Subsidy (GTFS) Policy” that was used from 2020 to 2024 is renamed as GFEP will include only registered ECE Centres. ECE centres must meet the conditions of payment.
“Government Free Education Policy (GFEP).” from 2025. The former title has not been applicable since 2022
when the government paid the full fees and did not require any parental contribution. 12.ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
A new accounting system called School Based Financial Management System was introduced in NCD in 2024.
3.2. Schools Covered by the GFEP This will be rolled out in 2025. This new initiative is a standardized School Based Financial Management System
The GFEP covers schools in the National Education System that are registered with the National Department of that will improve transparency and accountability.
Education. GFEP grants are payable to: (a) Early Childhood Centers, (b) Primary Schools (c) Secondary Schools
(d) National Schools of Excellence (e) Vocational Schools (f) Inclusive Education Resource Centers, (g) Flexible This initiative will be rolled out in all Secondary/PHS/NSoE, then to Vocational Centres and then the Primary
Open and Distance Education services and (h) Permitted Schools. Sectors. (Refer to Secretary’s circular for maximum limits set.). All schools must adapt and comply with the
standardized School Based Financial Management System.
4.SCHOOL FEES LIMIT FOR 2025
4.1.Since 2012, the Governments tuition Fee grants Under TFFE, and GTFS has used enrolments and a standard 13. SCHOOL ACQUITTALS
rate to pay students grants, irrespective of geographical locality. In 2025, this policy will change to pay students All school heads must be held accountable in the management and expenditure of GFEP funds. Compulsory
based on locality. financial audits must be carried out by auditors, inspectors and provincial GFEP officers.
4.2.The National Education Board (NEB) has set out the school fee limit for 2025 based on the Unit Cost study 14.PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AND DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES
carried out in 2024 and different levels of fees according to the National Economic and Fiscal Commission Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments and District Development Authorities are the immediate
(NEFC) PNG Access Remote Index (PARI) categories. Namely: (1) Highly Accessible (HA) (2) Accessible (A) (3) authorities responsible for the education of students in the general education sector. In the spirit of partnership,
Moderately Accessible (MA) (4) Remote (5) Very Remote (VRE) (6) Extremely Remote (ER). we urge every Provincial Government and District Development Authority to help their schools’ development and
SLIP.
4.3.The maximum grants per child that are payable inline with the NEFC model will be the Fee Limits for this year
as shown in the table below: ECE and Primary Schools come under the LLGs/DDAs and High Schools, secondary schools and vocational
centres come under the Provincial Governments. One area that would need support by high/secondary schools
Secondary NSOE Vocational will be the cost of boarding, and I request respective subnational governments to support their boarding schools.
PARI Elementary Primary DAY BOARDING DAY BOARDING DAY BOARDING
HA 100.24 186.62 634.51 1,234.51 882.98 1,482.98 699.56 1,099.56 15.MANDATORY SELF RELIANCE FOR SCHOOLS TO RAISE 10% OF ITS REVENUE
Self-reliance is a standing policy of the Department. Schools should take-up self-reliance projects and support
A 132.23 244.21 826.46 1,426.46 1,148.51 1,748.51 923.50 1,323.50
development initiatives. Schools should not become too dependent on the Government grants, but to consider
MA 159.96 296.46 1,004.55 1,604.55 1,395.92 1,995.92 1,121.85 1,521.85 raising cash and kind to sustain their SLIP.
R 221.81 412.70 1,398.05 1,998.05 1,942.98 2,542.98 1,562.28 1,962.28
VRE 299.66 556.66 1,886.46 2,486.46 2,622.28 3,222.28 2,108.27 2,508.27 I direct every school to generate 10% of its annual school budget through lawful self-reliance projects in 2025.
ER 472.42 878.71 2,978.46 3,578.46 4,139.76 4,739.76 1,408.71 1,808.71
16.CONCLUSION
4.4.In 2025, the actual calculation of payments for each sector may vary and adjusted based on three factors,
namely (a) Enrolment (b) PARI Location and (c) Total budget appropriation. The Government is committed to seeing every student receiving quality education under a standard based
education system cover the 1-6-6 school structure with a robust standards assurance system that caters for
5.GFE POLICY COMPONENTS both exceptionally gifted students and other students’ according to their needs and aspirations.
The Government’s Free Education Policy will consist of two components in 2025. These will be:
The GFEP supports the policy to eliminate the drop out of students and enhance the goal to have every student
I.SCHOOL OPERATION AND FUNCTIONAL GRANT (SOFG) (80%); complete 13 years of universal education.
The SOFG grants will be disbursed directly to schools. Schools in decentralized provinces will continue to have
their grants paid by the province through respective GFEP Trust Accounts. I call for all parents and stakeholders for your continuous support in other ways than the GFEP to ensure schools
remain operational throughout 2025.
II.COMMODITY COMPONENT (20%) WHICH SUPPORTS SCIENCE MATHEMATICS AND BASIC SCHOOL MATERIALS.
Any further explanation of the policy can be obtained from the Department of Education Website: www.education.
The commodity component is quality and equity intervention programme. The funding under this intervention gov.pg or by sending an email to: [email protected] or calling phones: 3288800/72668181/71460383
program is implemented by the Department of Education and with the support of local SMEs and businesses.
The quality and equity intervention in education program in 2025 will include: Authorized by:
a)Basic Teaching and Learning materials for all schools including VTC and CCVE – 15%
Under this revised policy of 2025, ECE Centres and Vocational Centers will be given vouchers or grants to procure HON. LUCAS DAWA DEKENA, MP
tools and equipment kits based on their relevant needs. MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
b)Interventions in English, Science and Mathematics – 4%
c)ICT - Quality Assurance and Interventions– 1% 17th January 2025
