OBUs misuse funds collected for School Admissions- CTU
View(s):The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) last week said that Rs. 129 million collected for admitting children to popular national schools, is being misused by the Old Boys Unions (OBU).
Despite the Ministry of Education (MoE) Circular 1964/27 of November 20, 1964, prohibiting collecting money from parents for admission to schools, the schools have continued to collect funds for building and school development, through the OBUs.
Following this, in June 1996, the MoE sent letters to the OBUs, barring them from collecting funds from parents.
“Nevertheless, the OBUs continue to collect funds, which are not used for the welfare of the students. Instead, the monies have been invested in businesses in schools, including swimming pools and auditoriums,” said CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin.
As a matter of fact, in 2018, Rs. 70 million was collected by 9 schools. Of this, only Rs. 24 million has been spent on 8 schools.
“The balance monies have been invested under the respective OBUs’ names. There has been no auditing or transparency in the accounts. We demand that such collection of funds cease immediately and incomes on businesses be audited,” he said.
- CC