Parents whose children attend the St. Thomas Technical High School are expressing alarm at some fees being charged for the new academic year.
Topping the list of their concerns is the near 100 per cent increase in the School Development Fund.
It has moved from $3,500 to $6,500.
The parents also pointed out that there is a new policy which requires all students to pay a fee of $2,000 before they receive a registration package.
They argue that the fee previously applied only to grade seven students.
The registration package contains a bank voucher, a book list and a medical form.
The parents say the additional charges are unjust and are demanding the intervention of the Ministry of Education.
They say the fees will be an added back-to-school expense.
Some parents who have more than one child attending St. Thomas Technical say they are not able to afford it.
When RJR News sought a response from the school’s vice principal, he said he would not be in a position to comment on the matter until on Wednesday when the school’s office reopens.
Dah registration package really bogus.
The people that complain the most are the ones who do not contribute any income taxes to the government, yet they want free education, free medical care and good roads. Yet their kids have the latest mobile phone and weave. It is obvious that the contribution by the ministry of education is not sufficient to run these institutions, yet they raise the income tax threshold and expect these schools to provide a good education. Our priorities are all screwed up IMHO.
I agree with you 100%. The people that complain waste the money on other stuff and want free education. Most schools charge a fee even though government says it is free. what government is giving the schools is not sufficient.
Das too high, uno need to get the minister of education involved and the permanent secretary. Das awful them not even do it in increments of like say 10%, hell no uno rush or hand deliver this complain. The minister of education Hon Ruel Reid states that extra funding was sent to the schools to offset expenses so them nuh suppose to hike up no fees by nuh 100%. What about people who really cant afford that because them have to buy books etc. Dem too wicked.
Bullshit, the fees are reasonable and justified, the people in ST Thomas would prefer to party everyday of the week rather than invest in their child’s future. If they cut out the partying and other forms of foolish spending for a week they would easily be able to make up the difference. You can’t expect for the government to invest in the infrastructure without taxing the people accordingly.
The fees too high, u cant raise a fee by 100% one time, nuh matter if is was 3000 before wen they hike it by 100 n nothing happens, they are going to hike it by another 100% 2018 das how some school brave. The ministry allocate money to those schools base on 2017 school fees, so the lower the school fee the more money the ministry will alocate to that school. Now if that is understood, why the f uck the school still go ahead n increase the fees, the school actions in dishonest, we cant be sending our kids to an instititution that teaches them to be a better individual when the school is being dishonest and going against what they agreed to with the ministry of education. This is a principle matter, if the ministry and the school agree that the fees are not to be increased n the school went behind the ministry back n increased the fee, das dishonesty plain n simple. Principles are principles.