The Government has once again warned school authorities against sending pupils home for non-payment of school fees as schools open.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango said Government policy was against punishing innocent pupils as the contract to pay fees was between the school and the parent or guardian.

She said parents at the school have good relations with the head and when they agree on payment plan, they always strive to meet their part of the bargain.

Dr Utete-Masango said she was told that those who meet challenges and fail to pay within the agreed period always inform authorities in order to come up with new payment plans.

She urged other school authorities to come up with ways of encouraging parents to pay fees and levies as opposed to sending pupils home.

Dr Utete-Masango however said parents or guardians with pupils at boarding schools should appreciate that schools need money to buy food and meet other expenses hence they should pay the fees on or before schools open.