Contingency fees being voluntary
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY
Amidst widespread concern raised by parents over contingency fees being paid to schools, President Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday stated that the fees are voluntary and no child should be denied an education because of a parent's inability to pay. However this was met with criticisms from some sectors of society including school officials who claimed that the fees are used to pay cleaners and purchase much-needed supplies not otherwise made available to them through their limited budget allocation. We asked the man/woman in the street their views on the recent decision by the government. Their views follow: Ann Lovell- Teacher: 'It is not a good decision for schools for a number of reasons. Firstly, the government does not support schools as it ought to and there is not enough money to manage it effectively. Secondly, nobody would want to pay because it is voluntary. Of course, I do agree that some parents cannot afford the fees but then the government's budget is not enough to enable schools to function effectively. The parents must contribute something - it is in the best interests of the students. What we need in this case is to increase our school supplies or the teachers would end up going into their pockets. What was not made clear also is if the decision is for all the schools - What about the senior schools?' Jennifer McPherson - Homemaker: 'I think the President's decision is a good one since I have four children all going to the same school. It is difficult since for one term alone I must find $36,000 in contingency fees. The schools could accept a fee - that I agree with - but the present fees being charged is too much. I just now come from the school and walking down the road, I am wondering when and where to find the money from. It should not be compulsory, if the schools want a donation, they should ask for it. The high contingency fee is creating opportunities for children to be on the streets.' Joan Bissessar - Private Sector employee: 'President Jagdeo has done something good. I am a single parent with two children with rent, transportation, meals and all the other expenses. Surely the money could be raised in some other ways - some fund-raising activities or the other. In addition, whenever there are meetings, each student is expected to contribute at least $500. Not every parent can afford to pay. It is not that I am against the fees - it is just that not every one can afford it. Some kind of discretion should be used.' Shem Wills - Private Sector employee: 'Not everyone can afford the contingency fees. I can recall some students being embarrassed in not being able to pay. Although it can be recognised that the schools are not getting enough money, this burden should not be passed onto the school children because among them are poor people too. What could be put in place is a system similar to the CXC subsidy where government bears a fraction of the fees.' Ismay Ramoudith - Teacher: 'It is a harsh decision for the schools. The money is used for cleaning, providing badges, physical exercise outfits. Where would the schools get the money now? This would jeopardise the entire school system and send it one step backward. I do admit that some children cannot pay but then there are others who can afford to pay and what we have found is that in most cases the ones who can afford to pay are the ones that don't. Now that the decision is taken, what direction are the schools going in? I think the government should subsidise the students in the payments of the fees - similar to what is being done for the CXC students.' Paula Toussaint - Homemaker: 'I think that contingency fees to schools should be paid. Why? Because schools cannot stand on their own. It is a situation where everything is limited in the schools. Teachers are working hard and an impression is given that only some selected schools are benefitting from government. Where would they find the money to pay the cleaners - if the government cannot afford to provide the schools with the necessary funding or supplies to run it efficiently, then somebody has to help. Granted that some cannot pay, surely others could come up with something - regardless of the amount and the government should have a part to play in this'. Kenneth Whyte - Public Sector employee: 'The President's statement is welcome at this particular time. The question of having enough funds is decades old. The Parents Teacher Association (PTA), Old Students Association among others should be encouraged to play a greater role in assisting the schools. Children should not be denied an education because of not paying their contingency fees - This is nonsense. Government should seriously look at revisiting the cost of all levels of education from nursery to tertiary and it needs to place more effort on the situation.' Richard Singh - University of Guyana student: 'It was a sad case for both the schools and the students. On one hand the students are made to pay fees which some can ill-afford and on the other, the schools are in a position where they do not have enough money to buy some essential items. The contingency fees allowed for the purchase of these essential supplies. When you take away the contingency fees and do not make alternative arrangements, it is a recipe for trouble. I think the government should work more with the schools to get the money, if they cannot afford to allocate it.' Lennox Lancaster - Freelance writer: 'I remember in my days as a youngster, there was no such thing as contingency fees. Times have changed and now the children are being asked to pay. It is the government's responsibility to provide for the school and those children who can afford to pay, should pay. With the President's statement that the fees are voluntary, it should be recognised that there will be some who cannot afford to pay.'
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