Students of leading schools have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to principals if they seek to continue their education in advanced level classes, JVP MP Lakshman Nipunarachchi told Parliament yesterday (26).

Students cannot enter advanced level classes without paying these amounts, he said. Referring to a letter issued by the Principal of Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda, to the students seeking entrance to the Advanced Level classes, the MP said that each student has been asked to pay a sum of Rs. 5,640 to the Principal’s office.

MP Nipunarachchi tabled a copy of the letter signed by the Principal and addressed to the students. He said charging money from students was illegal. Even students who had passed the GCE Ordinary Level examination from Anula Vidyalaya had been asked to pay the sum of Rs. 5,640, he said.

"This is totally unfair by these students. The letter says that this amount is charged to cover the expenses for security purposes, laboratory facilities, library facilities, electricity, etc.," he said.

JHU MP Udawatte Nanda thera said that there were serious irregularities in admission of students to grade one classes too. Even children of families who live closer to national schools are denied admission. When parents try to inquire of these injustices, they are driven from pillar to post by school and educational authorities, he said.

"Children from distant places and far away from schools have been given an opportunity to study in national schools. When parents go and inquire about this, principals ask them to bring a letter from the Director of National Schools in Isurupaya. When they come to the Education Ministry they are requested to bring letters from or asked to report back to school principals. Six months have elapsed, but some children still have no schools," Nanda thera said.

Chief Government Whip, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena promised to bring both issues to the attention of the Minister of Education, Susil Premjayanth.