Education Ministry says Ro Teimumu’s statement regarding Free Education Grant per child is inaccurate

The Ministry of Education says that SODELPA MP Ro Teimumu Kepa made an inaccurate statement regarding the Free Education Grant in parliament while responding to the 2020/2021 National Budget yesterday.

Ro Teimumu had said that the Free Education Grant for small and medium schools was reduced to $150 per child and $156 per child for larger schools in 2018.

However, Minister for Education Rosy Akbar says schools receive a Free Education Grant of up to $852 per child, depending on the size and locality of the school.

The Ministry say that they will continue to ensure that Fijian children receive the best education possible that will allow them to have happy and productive lives and be equipped to lead and sustain Fiji in the future.

Akbar has also stated in parliament that despite a reduction in the budget, access to education has not been compromised and students will continue to receive free tuition, free textbooks, subsidised transport and many other similar grants.

The Ministry says it is appalling that such misleading information is being provided to the people of Fiji and the Ministry would like to know where the Member of Parliament sources her information from or if it was simply done to gain media attention.