Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Education Minister Andrew Holness yesterday dodged saying where the money would come from to finance the abolition of cost sharing in the nation's secondary schools, despite the Prime Minister's pronouncement last week that the nation would have known by Monday.

However, Mr. Holness told reporters at a press conference, held at the ministry's Heroes Circle head offices, that by early November, some $800 million would be disbursed to public schools to offset tuition fees. This would bring to 75 per cent, the amount of money schools would have received from the Education Ministry.

"That question rightfully should be directed to the Ministry of Finance. This is the Ministry of Education. My job is to make sure that the schools' budget is protected and not affected by this policy decision," Mr. Holness said when asked by The Gleaner where the money would come from.

He added: "I think the Ministry of Finance will have to find that fund. It is one of our signal commitments and I don't think they would take any chances in not finding the funds."

Address the Minister of Finance

"I don't think you should worry about finding the money, and if you have a worry, the person who should rightfully address that worry would be the Minister of Finance," said Mr. Holness.

Mr. Holness said the money, which will be sent to schools, is in addition to the $460 million which was sent to institutions in August. He indicated that by February, schools would receive the remaining 25 per cent.

It will cost taxpayers $1.8 billion to finance free tuition for 216,000 students in grades seven to 13.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister said a bulletin was sent to schools advising them to refund parents out of the money which would be disbursed. This process he said, should be completed by December.

"We want the refund to go directly to the parents. So, schools should not do any deductions or net off any fees that were owed previously. So, the entire amount of the refund should go to the parents," Mr. Holness instructed.

He pointed out that the refund must be done in the form of a cheque to the legal guardian of the student, upon submission of vouchers. Refunds, he said would not be made to institutions or Members of Parliament.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com