admin
without permission from parents and the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.
Parents have started complaining that schools were increasing fees and calling for last minute meetings to effect changes to fees and levies.
Parents who spoke to Chronicle yesterday said they were not happy with the way schools were increasing fees.
They said the conduct of school authorities was inconveniencing them.
Some schools advertised in the Press yesterday calling for general meetings, with the school fees on their agenda.
“We are being shortchanged by schools. It is not fair for us to pay fees in full during the holidays and then be told when schools open that we have to top up. We can accept meetings to discuss other issues, but we will not accept a situation where we are called upon to fork out more money,” said Mrs Sarah Mahlathini from Queens Park East.
“It is not fair for us to be topping up school fees each and every term. The relevant Ministry must do something because we cannot watch schools fleecing us of our hard earned money.”
Another parent, Mr Douglas Nyathi, complained that schools were demanding school fees in full, which was not possible for most parents.
“We are being told that our children should produce receipts of fully paid school fees before they can be accepted in the school buses or the school premises. Most of us cannot afford to pay schools fees in full considering that we have other responsibilities that need money.
“Such issues should be dealt with by parents and school authorities, without making the children suffer or feeling embarrassed over non-payment of school fees.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Lazarus Dokora said schools should follow the existing legal procedure pertaining to the increase of fees.
“It is important for all schools, Government or non-government to follow the correct procedures whenever they want to effect changes to school fees and levies. Failure to comply with the legal procedures will result in the Ministry taking action against schools that increase fees,” said Deputy Minister Dokora.
“All schools should have proper School Development Committees (SDCs), which should work hand in hand with the school heads and parents. Any outcome of a meeting done without parents is invalid and as the Ministry we do not allow such procedures.”
Deputy Minister Dokora urged parents to report to the Ministry if a school increases fees without consulting them.
“School heads must liaise with parents on their plans to increase fees and if parents do not agree then the fees must not be increased.
“It is also not acceptable for schools to call for meetings to effect changes on school fees on levies at any given time. Proper notices have to be placed,” he said.
“Parents should consult their provincial education directors if they have complaints about any school’s conduct.”
Speaking on paying school fees in full, Deputy Minister Dokora said it was every parent’s obligation and responsibility to pay school fees for their children.
“I believe that every parent knows that they have a responsibility to pay school fees for their children and should not assume that their children should be fed through money that has been paid by other parents.
“However, parents who have problems in paying their fees in full should communicate their circumstances to the school so that payment plans can be agreed upon,” he said.
Online Reporter