PM says PNG schools have no excuse to shut doors

12:31 pm on 10 April 2015

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister says there must be no excuses for schools to close in term two because more than 100 million US dollars has already been released for free education.

Peter O'Neill's comments come a day after the country's Teachers Association said more than 13,000 schools have opted to close in two weeks due to a lack of funding, a decision that will affect close to two million children.

The Post Courier reports Mr O'Neill saying the level of incompetence and mismanagement by officials cannot be excused or tolerated.

He says he knows all funds for the first half of the year have been released for school fees, and he doesn't want to hear excuses because that would give people reason to divert or misuse money meant for education.

He says he wants to assure parents, children, and their schools that he will sort the situation out over the next few days.

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