I REFER to recent newspaper reports regarding parents’ concern on the fees imposed by the various schools in the country.

While the disparity in collection is a cause for concern, parents should realise that no school can function without funds.

Parents should be aware that in late November 2007, schools were provided with guidelines on what fees to collect.

Recent statements by higher authorities blaming the headmasters/principals and teachers for not adhering to directives are aimed at discrediting those in the lower rungs for their mistakes.

No school headmaster or principal will dare to impose fees on parents without approval from their respective superiors. Whenever a new fee is to be introduced, the District and State Education Departments are informed, and their approval will be needed to pursue the matter.

To be fair to the administrators of the schools, they are only carrying out duties as directed by the higher authorities. It is not that principals and teachers misinterpreted the directive from higher authorities; it was just that the directives were not clear.

When it was announced that school fees were to be abolished, the circular or statement should have been specific and to the point. Even headmasters/principals and teachers were caught off-guard. What more parents?

As a teacher with 26 years’ experience in both primary and secondary schools, together with another nine years of service, I can assure parents that whatever collection done by the schools are for the benefit of the children and no school authority can blindly collect extra fees without approval from the State Education Department.

I, myself, a father to four school-going children, had to fork out more than RM500 in school fees alone, not taking into consideration expenses like uniforms and school bags. After these expenses, I don’t even take home half of my pay!

Like it or not, if you want quality education for your kids, you have to pay. You cannot expect everything to come free. If you think it is a burden to pay for many children, start family planning!

Least but not least, I urge parents and those in authority not to pass the buck to teachers over this school fee issue because we are just taking orders.

We sometimes have to implement orders without question, even though we know something is not right somewhere.

To teachers, keep up the good work. It is not easy being a teacher any more!

JAYARAJ K.G.S.,

Sitiawan, Perak.

Source: The Star – January 10, 2008