The Herald
27 February 2009
THE Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture has ordered schools not to turn away children for failing to pay fees while awaiting a Cabinet decision next week on recommendations on a new fee structure.
In an interview yesterday, Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart confirmed the development.
“I met with senior management in the ministry and we agreed on a proposal to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday,” he said.
Asked on the nature of the proposal, Minister Coltart said: “Suffice to say it seeks to strike a balance on the need to raise money for schools and the need to cater for the disadvantaged members of society.”
He said he hoped Cabinet would accept his ministry’s recommendations and resolve the issue of school fees as a matter of urgency.
The minister said Government’s policy on school fees was clear.
“Our policy is clear. We do not want children turned away from school because of non-payment of fees at this juncture.”
Schools have demanded huge amounts, in hard currency, from parents as fees for the first term.
The amounts vary, with some as high as US$2 500 a term.
Many parents have since transferred their children from such schools after failing to raise the amounts demanded while others have sued the schools concerned.
Last week, Government struck a deal with teachers’ organisations for their members to return to work by March 2 to allow the resumption of normal classes for the 2009 school calen- dar.
According to the agreement, all schools should be fully functional by March 9.
Minister Coltart is expected to make recommendations to the Ministry of Public Service for the granting of amnesty to teachers who absconded from service over the past two years for economic reasons.