Educators take issue with PM's stance on no-fee policy

 

Educators have reacted strongly to the Prime Minister's warning that schools should adhere to the no-tuition fee policy and not seek to recover fees to top up their budget.

 

They have raised questions about the cap of $19,000 per student, and warned that that figure is not enough based on the true cost of operating the institutions.

 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness had made the call over the weekend, urging schools not to use the COVID-19 pandemic to justify recovering funds through various fees.

 

Alfred Thomas, Principal of Brown's Town High School, believes that this was not the best message to be sent at this time.

 

When the government had initially introduced its no-tuition fee policy, it said parents could still make a contribution to the school if they wanted to or could afford it. 

 

But Mr. Thomas says the government's constant rhetoric at this time of the year that parents do not have to pay, is unhelpful because they will latch on to that advise and not contribute.

 

Instead of that message, he suggested it would be better to say "those who can pay, let them pay, and those who can't, then we work out something else". 

 

Mr. Thomas added that school administrators are struggling due to rising operational costs, arguing that the "same allocation from the ministry that has been given from 2016 cannot be the same thing that is now given in 2022". 

 

The government's no-fee policy first came into effect in September 2016, discontinuing the payment of mandatory fees by parents. 

 

The budgetary allocation per student moved from $11,000 to $19,000.

 

The Ministry of Education has issued a bulletin informing school administrators that the cost of the registration package at the secondary level should not exceed $6,000.

 

The bulletin says there should be no cost for registration at the primary level. 

 

Principal of Campion College, Grace Baston, is also of the view that the message from the Prime Minister is not helpful in this challenging economic climate.

 

She has also suggested that more emphasis be placed on encouraging parents to pay. 

 

"There are two different ways you can ask for the contribution. You can say, 'Make the contribution because the state is doing the best it can but can't fully fund the thing' or you say, 'Make the contribution but be assured that the state has already paid for the cost of this education'. It's that second one that we're hearing and it is a deterrent to people making the contribution," she complained.  

 

Educator Dr. Nadeen Spence questioned whether there is an acknowledgment by the Education Ministry that the allocation per child does not reflect the actual cost of a wholesome education.

 

"I don't think that there is that communication or that understanding between schools and the ministry that the cost that they have in their heads for running a school term is not actually the cost. And I think that's where the problem is," she reasoned, pointing to the myriad of extra-curricula activities students also participate in to add to their learning experience. 

 

She is advocating for more dialogue on the matter.