INCREASES in school fees has raised grave concerns for parents who have been struggling to foot their children’s fees every year despite the government’s fee free education policy.
The policy, which was implemented back in 2004 and carried on by the caretaker NCRA government, was part of the MDG (Millennium Development Goals), which stated that education must be given to everyone.
However, one of the concerned parents is questioning the legality of increased school fees the country’s state high school is charging on students this year.
A concerned parent whose child is undergoing studies at King George Sixth school is calling on the school board and its principal to explain whether the rise in school fees is legal.
“It is saddening to note the rise in school fees at KG Six which will give more headaches to parents and fee payers who will have to dig deep into their pockets to meet the increase,” the parent said.
The state owned school was said to raise its school fees for forms 1-3 from $300 to $1500 this year and forms 4-5 $2400 to $4050 respectively.
“This is concerning indeed and we want the KG6 school board and Principal to explain to us how this increase came about,” the concerned parent said.
But KGVI school principal said so far there was no increase in the school fees this year.
He said the fees remain the same and there were no changes.
However, the principal did not speak of any increase of school fees this year from last year when asked.
But the parent called on the school board who is believed to have administered the school to come out and explain to fee payers and justify their increase in school fees.
“If what the minister of education say early this month in parliament is true about justifying increase of school fees by the ministry, then parents and guardians of all students deserve answers from school administrators to justify their increase of school fees.
“Because it seems fee payers have been troubled with yearly increases of school fees that seems unrealistic when there is no tangible developments been seen over the years,” the parent added.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
