18 Aug 2014

Claims Vanuatu govt reneging on school fee deal

4:58 pm on 18 August 2014

Vanuatu students from areas affected by natural disasters have reportedly been turned away from schools because the government failed to pay their fees.

Several areas on Tanna Island were declared disaster zones last year by the government after volcanic activity damaged crops and vegetables.

Parents of affected children have told the Vanuatu Independent the sale of crops was what they have relied on in the past to pay their children's school fees.

They say the Government has not followed through on a promise to pay the fees.

The paper says school managers have complained that the high number of unpaid fees has weakened schools' operations.