 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The JVP yesterday accused the Education authorities of illegally charging fees from students in government schools for entry to Advanced Level classes. They claimed that the amount was half of what was levied by private schools for the same purpose.
This was tantamount to the State converting government schools into private schools, the JVP told a press conference yesterday.
JVP heavyweight Anura Kumara Dissanayake MP said that some schools in Colombo charged a sum of Rs 8,000 from an Advance Level student. "This practice is not approved by a Ministry circular or any other legal document. Therefore it is illegal", he said.
"The levy comprises Rs. 1,200 as defence fund, Rs. 1,200 for tutorials and assignments, Rs. 400 as library charges, Rs. 1,000 for electricity, Rs. 1,000 for subject related charges, Rs. 1,000 for laboratory usage and Rs. 60 for the school development fund. The reason for charging this fee varies from school to school. Some schools charge for postal and electricity expenses, sports festivals, for exams and tutorials. According to these charges, a school with approximately 3,000 students collects around Rs. 7,500 per a day. This is totally against the free education system," he said.
A visibly angry JVP parliamentarian, showing the list of charges with the signature of the Principal of a particular school, said that the government had allocated millions of rupees for maintaining the free education system. Hundreds of international agencies are also funding the upgrading the education system in Sri Lanka. But school heads charge electricity and other maintenance fees from students, Dissanayake said.
Earlier they charged a school development fund which was an affordable amount, in the region of Rs 50 or Rs 60 per year. But how can parents afford to pay massive amounts like Rs. 6,000 or Rs. 8,000 per year?
He described this as a hidden tax levied by the Government.
Education Secretary Nimal Bandara said that he was investigating the matter. Collection of these funds was endorsed by the School Development Societies and it was approved by the Provincial Education Directors, he said.
"We can’t maintain the schools with the government funds alone and we have to collect a small sum of money from students too. Schools are collecting it for the entire duration of their two years in the Advance Level classes." He also said that many students keep away from classes after one year. That is why the amount looks too big. "I have advised school heads to collect it year by year," Bandara said.
