By Bida Elly David
The National Ministry of General Education and Instructions has made final resolution to apprehend and detain school administrators imposing high tuition fees against learners noting that the punishment will be the results of deaf ears.
The ministry set the brutal measures against public and privately owned primary and secondary schools who consider profit maximization through imposition of high tuition fees to learners noting that the punishment would be a reward to their acts.
The stern warning was made by the deputy minister of general education during a press conference held at the ministry premises yesterday.
Speaking to journalists during the event, Martin Tako Moyi, the national deputy minister of general education and instruction said that imposition of high fees by these schools have contributed to high rate of school dropout since some families could not afford to pay.
He said that the ministry formerly issued several warnings against such schools but the directors and the administrators are believed to have turned down the order believing that they are above the authority in various ways.
“We are unfortunately surprised that there are some public schools’ administrators still charging children even higher than expected. We are here warning those school administrators against their act. They will be arrested and taken to competent court,” he said.
Tako said that the misappropriation by the above-mentioned categories of schools is a total violation of the constitution and the presidential orders for free education in South Sudan.
He said that the ministry has given them ample time with several compromises but the directors believed that operating based on multiple profit-making is best to achieve their goals.
Her warned administrators to distant themselves from using the education sector as a business entity operating under free market system stating that there will be no room for anyone who shall invest in education with monetary aim.
“What these people are doing is the violation of our constitution and the order of H.E the president as well as South Sudan general education policy,” he said.
He said that public schools were banned from charging fees at all levels and private schools ought to charge learners a fair amount that can encourage parents to have the will in educating their children.
“If we find these orders violated, we will have no compromise on anybody who shall not be in position to respect the order of the head of the state and the education policy of the Country,” he said.