The Education Ministry has stressed that none of the primary and secondary schools should force parents to pay school fees for next year as education is totally free next year.
Fijivillage has received calls from parents from Veiuto Primary School and Gospel High School today that the managements are still demanding for next year’s fees.
A letter to parents from Veiuto Primary stated that they have not received anything in writing from the Ministry of Education.
The parents said they are worried and confused.
We questioned Permanent Secretary for Education Doctor Brij Lal about this issue and he maintained his stand that no school management should demand for next year’s fees.
President of Veiuto Primary School Parents and Teachers Association Selina Kuruleca said the school needs the funds for purchasing items for the new school year now and the parents who pay the fees will be refunded when the government funding is released to them.
Kuruleca said they have written letters to the ministry however there is no confirmation on the disbursement of the funds.
We also questioned Kuruleca about the public comments already made by the government that there should be no demand for next year’s fees.
Veiuto Primary is demanding the first term fees for 2014 for Classes 2 to 8 and the full year’s fees for 2014 for Class 1 students.
Doctor Brij Lal maintained that schools should not ask for the fees and the funds will be released to the schools next year.
He said no funds for 2014 will be released this year.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
Don’t Pay
