Ministry warns principals no fee for registration

Parents of students attending several schools have complained to Newsday of the fees they are required to pay, which at some schools included safety fees, uniform purchases and financial contributions towards their children’s education. Some said the fees charged were too high, amounting to as much as $800, and included allocations towards art supplies, lab fees, caution allowances and stationery items.

In a Newsday article two weeks ago, parents of students attending the Sangre Grande Junior Secondary complained about “high registration fees” being charged to students registering for the new school term. Newsday was later informed by an official from the school, that the fees were actually “accessory fees” which included payment for student identification cards, physical education uniforms, assignment books and other stationery items.

One parent of a form one student due to start school at the St Francois Girls’ College in September told Newsday, parents were required to make a $775 “contribution” upon registration. “My child has not yet started attending the school but I have been asked to make a mandatory contribution,”she said.

Private lesson conducted by teachers at government primary schools was another issue raised by concerned parents. One single mother of a child attending a government primary school in the St George East district said a teacher at the school did not do much teaching during the school hours, but invited all his students to join the lessons classes he taught on the school’s compound after school. “He gives good lessons, but he should not use the school for his own gain,” she said.

Sharon Balroop, Communications Officer at the Ministry of Education told Newsday schools were not to impose fees on students. She added that no one should “deny any child from getting into a public school.”

She said Chapter 39:01 page 17 of the Education Act stated that government schools cannot be used for private or personal profit.

She further stated teachers should not be allowed to charge for extra lessons conducted on government school compounds.

Balroop however added, private schools under denominational boards were governed by the rules of those boards and therefore teachers could make their own arrangements with principals.