Dear Editor,
Several parents of new students who will be attending school in a few days’ time have approached me with the disturbing fact that secondary schools across Berbice, particularly in New Amsterdam, are demanding huge sums of money from them as part of what has been referred to as “contingency fees.” Without paying these fees, according to the parents, their children would be barred from being registered and thus offered a place at the secondary schools across the region.
This letter-writer has verified this information. To substantiate the parents’ allegations, an interview with a Regional Education official in Region Six on a prominent TV newscast has revealed similar allegations reaching the officer’s desk, who then warned head teachers to stop the practice of collecting money from parents. Failure to heed a circular issued by the Ministry of Education in 2008, regarding the prohibition on schools collecting any monies from parents, would result in head teachers and any teacher doing same being placed before the disciplinary committee of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).
One school in New Amsterdam is reported to have a special line for parents at a prominent commercial bank in New Amsterdam. This bank has an account for the school to which parents flock on a daily basis to deposit $3000 just so that their children would be registered at this school.
This letter writer is in possession of a form issued by that same school. On the form, there is a portion for financial contributions for a monogram (the school badge), report card/booklet, and some kind of health fee, which amount to about $1500. Surprisingly, a monogram of the school now costs over $600. The money which parents of this particular school have to pay amounts to some $3000.
Teachers at these schools are also demanding that students buy specific kinds of school bags and order parents to acquire this and that textbook. This is totally unfair.
These teachers and head teachers ought to be immediately dealt with according to the regulations. Parents are also not supposed to take furniture with them on the first day of school to any school in Guyana. The Ministry of Education has to provide furniture and seating accommodation for our children.
Many, many schools across the region are still contravening the circular about school officials soliciting monies from parents without the approval and sanction of the Parent/Teacher-Friends Association (PTFA). This is evident during examination times at the end of term when students are asked to pay as much as $500 towards the printing of test papers.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
