News / Education
Ministry to act against schools that unilaterally increase fees
23 Sep 2012 at 06:53hrs | Views
The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture has moved to act against schools that unilaterally increase fees and levies without proper consultation by coming up with new regulations that will give parents a greater say in the decision-making process.
The regulations, expected to be tabled before Cabinet soon, are also aimed at curb­ing the abuse of funds by headmasters in connivance with members of school devel­opment associations (SDAs).
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, con­firmed that the ministry has compiled the new set of regulations.
"It took us some time as we had to approach several experts to assist our tech­nical teams, but the new regulations, which will curb the abuse of school funds by both the management and SDAs, are ready.
"The new regulations will be tabled before Cabinet and will come into effect as soon as they get the approval," he said.
Minister Coltart hinted that the new reg­ulations also contain punitive measures that will be slapped on schools that defy Govern­ment directives.
"Situations of schools that defy Govern­ment directives are rampant and we are tightening the grip on those unruly schools. Under the Education Act, a majority of par­ents at a specially called meeting have to approve of any increase in fees or levies and then the minutes of the meeting and a list of parents attending has to be sent to the min­istry for final approval, but this has not been happening," he said. It is too early to divulge what we will do with such schools, but this time anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will regret.
"What we are doing is a process, we are merely responding to com­plaints from parents and guardians."
The regulations, expected to be tabled before Cabinet soon, are also aimed at curb­ing the abuse of funds by headmasters in connivance with members of school devel­opment associations (SDAs).
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, con­firmed that the ministry has compiled the new set of regulations.
"It took us some time as we had to approach several experts to assist our tech­nical teams, but the new regulations, which will curb the abuse of school funds by both the management and SDAs, are ready.
Minister Coltart hinted that the new reg­ulations also contain punitive measures that will be slapped on schools that defy Govern­ment directives.
"Situations of schools that defy Govern­ment directives are rampant and we are tightening the grip on those unruly schools. Under the Education Act, a majority of par­ents at a specially called meeting have to approve of any increase in fees or levies and then the minutes of the meeting and a list of parents attending has to be sent to the min­istry for final approval, but this has not been happening," he said. It is too early to divulge what we will do with such schools, but this time anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will regret.
"What we are doing is a process, we are merely responding to com­plaints from parents and guardians."
Source - SM
