Private schools get $$

CHEQUES have been processed for payment to private schools which were owed money for August and September, the Education Ministry said in a media release.

The Ministry placed 7,171 students at 42 private schools at the start of the 2002-2003 academic year. Of this total 7,077 were from Secondary Entrance Assessment/14 Plus category. The other 94 students were placed at sixth form classes. This project is costing $30,564,120. The Ministry  assured the public that a system is in place for the payment of fees to private secondary schools. This follows adverse reports in the media highlighting schools which are owed money, and the decision by TT Association of Private Secondary Schools (TTAPSS) not to allow students sent by the Ministry to continue their education at private schools.

In a letter dated September 19, Rev Errol Joseph, President of the TTAPSS informed the Ministry that 14 secondary schools had not been paid for August. The Education Ministry said under the current arrangement, private secondary schools which have accepted SEA and 14 Plus students are paid on a monthly basis. It said the complaints about non-payment were for August payments only.