"Something For Nothing”

New Guinea Church Schools End

From a Port Moresby correspondent There is an important prin ciple behind the introduction of school fees by the Anglican church in Papua-New Guinea.

The fees are being charged this year for the first time.

The money raised—probably be tween $5,000 and $6,000 for this year —will go towards the cost of pay increases for the church’s native staff, and one of the reasons for their in troduction is the church’s chronic shortage of funds with which to finance its educational system in the territory.

But it has also been caused by a growing feeling, especially among native churchmen, that the policy of “something-for-nothing” should end and that people should be encouraged to contribute towards the cost of the services they receive.

However, the new policy will be administered in a humane fashion; there will be provision for exemption from the fees on grounds such as hardship. Each mission area will have a special committee to hear claims for exemption, and the com mittee’s recommendations will be sent for decision to the assistant bishop of the area.

The charges are $6 a year for each family with children at secondary schools and S 3 a year for each family with children in primaiy schools.

These fees are payable in addition to the equipment levy of S 3 for primary school families which are imposed by the Administration and which caused such a row when they were introduced last year.

The actual amount of the new fees was fixed only shortly before school began in January, but the de cision to introduce the charges was agreed in principle by the first Diocesan conference at Dogura last year.