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Disciplinary action against principals soliciting funds for admissions warns Minister
View(s):School principals who continue to accept donations in violation of a recently issued Education Ministry circular regarding admission of students will face disciplinary action, warned Education Minister Akila Virja Kariyawasam.
He said they have identified the principals and the schools where illegal collection of funds continue, and action will be initiated against them shortly.
Minister Kariyawasam said that some of the schools where the violations have taken place are large schools with 5,000 to 6,000 children in attendance.
“We need to take action against those who fail to follow our circulars,” he said.
He said the Education sector trade unions have raised issues that the circular was unreasonable.
“I got down all the trade unions and explained the circular to them. The main objective was to provide relief to children who cannot afford to pay such donations,” he said.
Under the circular, if the school is a National school, a special committee at the ministry should give permission to collect funds, while at the Provincial level, the Provincial Education Secretary needs to give permission.
“Some of the schools have spent millions on constructing walls, while some principals have collected money to pay the monthly rental on leased vehicles,” he said.
“We believe this to be wasteful expenditure,” he added.
“There are schools which have collected Rs 20,000 from each students every year. Some of the schools which have about 7,000 students, have collected over Rs 100 million. The children need not pay such high amounts,” he said.
Minister Kariyawasam said that at the next Budget, allocations will be made for schools.
-Damith Wickremasekara.