What is going on in our schools?

THE EDITOR: My daughter attends a girls college in Diego Martin. She passed the SEA Examination in July of 2004. There was orientation in July. On this day you were required to pay $580. There were computer fees, $200, $100 for three books, a report book, an excuse book, and a homework book. Security fees for the year were $180 and a processing fee of $200 non-refundable in order to get the booklist and the days to come in to buy your child’s school uniform. If you did not pay this processing fee you did not get the booklist or the days for the purchase and collection of the school uniform. I paid the $580 with no problem.

Everyday when my daughter gets home from school I would enquire as to how was her day at school, also what she did at school that day. At the end of the first term my daughter told me that she never went into the computer room let alone use the computer. None of the Form 1’s have used the computer to this day but yet for all I am sent a notice that I am owing computer fees and it needs to be paid by a particular date. I ignored this notice. One week later I was sent another notice this time it was in bold FINAL NOTICE. I called the school and was told by the secretary “if I had a problem with that” I should leave my telephone number so they can contact me to make an appointment for me to see the principal. To date I have not received that phone call.

At the end of this term my daughter was given her grade verbally and was also told that she would not get the report because she has outstanding computer fees for the period January-March 2004. Last term when I went to collect the report they tore out the page with the report and gave it to me and told me that the book is for the school to keep. I argued this point. I submitted a letter to the Schools Supervisor in January, to date I have not had a response. If you get to school late you are given detention ie you have to clean the classroom after school. At the beginning of the new school term the children were told that the Form 1’s and Form 2’s are not allowed in the Computer Room. What is going on?

N BAPTISTE
Port-of-Spain