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Poor public school students exempted from paying fees: Education Ministry
View(s):State schools cannot compel parents or students to pay school fees. If a child is unable to pay school fees due to financial difficulties, they must be exempted from doing so, subject to a letter issued by the gramasevaka, certifying the circumstances of the child concerned, the Education Ministry said.
This is one of the directives in an Education Ministry circular regarding soliciting money from parents for school activities. The circular has been issued to all Provincial Directors, Secretaries of Education, Zonal Directors and Principals, to ensure that school authorities do not pressure students who are unable to pay school fees.
The Ministry has also prohibited past pupil associations from soliciting money from parents and students for projects within the school or outside.
“This includes soliciting money by past pupils associations for Grade 1 admissions. If old boys/girls want to assist their respective schools, a comprehensive report must be submitted to the Education Secretary for approval,” said Education Ministry Secretary, Upali Marasinghe.
He said, though there is no auditing of past pupils’ bank accounts, if information/complaints are received that money is being collected indirectly or in a fraudulent manner, legal action will be taken under the monetary regulation of the Ministry, as well as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Act.
“If anyone is genuinely willing to help to improve school facilities, donations can be made to the School Development Societies. Donations in kind should be made with permission from the Education Secretary and be included in the school inventory. Donations should be made only with genuine intentions, not for favours solicited,” he said.
Schools permitted to charge or obtain money in 2015, should follow the circular and seek permission again, the Ministry said.
“The present Government’s policy is that schools cannot solicit money from parents and students citing projects and programmes in schools.
It has been the trend to charge money from School Development Societies, past pupils association’s, Welfare Societies etc. These will be prohibited. All financial matters should be directed to the Education Secretary for approval,” the Ministry said.
Extension of school buildings or constructing of new buildings for more classrooms will also be prohibited.
“Only maintenance of existing buildings will be permitted. Schools should focus on improving the quality of Education, not spend on work like building walls. The present resources should be safeguarded and well managed,” the Ministry Secretary said.
The circular also stated that permission will not be granted for popular schools to construct new buildings, or extend classrooms, in order increase the number of students.
A Principal can issue an official receipt only for approved school fees and for essential expenses such as school utility bills and security payments. According to the circular, it is compulsory for a Principal to have an estimate of essential expenses, to compare the financial assistance from the Education Ministry or another State institution. The difference should be then divided by the number of students, to ascertain the cost per student, and forwarded to the Education Ministry.
The report will be analysed by an Education Ministry committee. Education Secretary approval will be for National schools, while Provincial Secretaries approval will be for Provincial schools. (NF)