Allowing fundraising does not mean students and parents will pay school fees – Prof.Prasad

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad has today clarified that allowing fundraising for schools does not mean that students and parents will have the burden of paying school fees and other services that were free in previous years.

This was highlighted by Professor Prasad when fijivillage News questioned him on a post being widely circulated by some people on social media claiming that free education is now gone after the government allowed fundraising.

Professor Prasad says it was part of their manifesto that they will work with the school management and free them from the shackles of the restrictions.

He adds the Government’s job is not to go and tell the school management how to run their schools and ask what is wrong if schools want to fundraise.

When asked how will this be managed to avoid the strain on parents and students, Professor Prasad stresses that there will be no burden on the children and no compulsion on the parents, as there are many people out there who are willing to contribute.

He adds that what has been circulated on social media is being cooked up by social media trolls.

He also highlighted that free education and free bus fare for students will continue.