Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Parents have until tomorrow to collect tuition fee refunds from their children's secondary schools or the money will be donated to the schools, says Dr. Charlene Ashley, director of communications in the Ministry of Education.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), as part of its campaign in the run-up to the September 3 General Election, promised to abolish tuition fees if it were to form the Government.

The JLP, having won the election, delivered on its promise and said it would refund parents who had already paid the fees.

According to Dr. Ashley, if the funds are not collected, though no fault of the parents, the money would go toward s the school's development fund.

Dr. Ashley urged parents with concerns regarding tuition fee refund to contact the ministry's regional offices or write to the head office at Heroes Circle, Kingston.

Meanwhile, principal of Seaforth High School, Hopeton Henry, said repayment at his school has been going well. He noted that the repayment has been staggered and parents of grade 11 students are collecting their money this week.

Mr. Henry was unable to say how much money has been paid out to date. However, he noted that quite a number of parents have donated the money to school.

"If it (the collection of fees) continues like this, we will have some money left," said Mr. Henry.

Meanwhile, Rupert Hemmings principal of Kingston College, said a number of parents have visited the school to collect their refund. However, he noted that not many have been donating the money to the school.

"But that is expected in these hard times," he said.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com