The remaining 50 percent of the Free Education Grants for term two is expected to be paid out to every school by the end of this week.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro says the government’s fiscal year starts in August, and the first 50 percent was paid before August and the other 50 percent will be paid later this month.
Radrodro says the processing of the Free Education Grant is done in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
The Minister says the new system that has been implemented, along with the adaptation and understanding required to use it, is currently causing a delay in the payment of the grant.
He says by this week, all the schools that are supposed to receive the 50 percent grant will have the funds deposited into their respective accounts.
The Minister also highlighted that it is not the Ministry of Education that is purposely withholding the payment of the grant.
Fiji Teachers Union General Secretary, Muniappa Goundar says they have received concerns from various schools that the 50 percent of the Free Education Grant is yet to be paid out.
Goundar says some schools that have received the grants, particularly those from Suva to Nausori, have had their grants recalled.
