Cynthia P. Cooke, Contributor

Cooke

I was alerted by a friend to "check out" what the prime minister was saying about us. The friend mentioned the word 'extortionist.' I have since read the words of the prime minister and I am satisfied that he did not call principals extortionists. However, I am convinced that the prime minister has not been fully apprised of the situation that exists in schools, which determines the fees charged.

I am aware of and sympathetic to the role and relationship that a politician must establish and maintain with his constituents. Hence the need to let them feel that their needs are being attended to and that they are protecting them from unnecessary spending. In spite of that, I believe that one goal of the politician must be to educate the people in order to improve their quality of life. If they cannot do this, then they should leave it to us. Whatever we do in the schools, we have the students' welfare as the deciding factor.

In 2003, a study was done to determine the actual cost of having a student in a school which provided the minimum resources and facilities required for a basic education. This did not include salaries and salary-related expenses. The amount was $15,000. Minister of Education Andrew Holness said that the amount to be given to schools for each student this year would be $9,500. This is after subtracting the $1,000 for book rental. If we use the 2003 figures, we should be charging at least $5,500 as supplemental fees. This does not take into account six years of inflation. My school charges $6,000. This includes PTA dues, ID, insurance costs and other personal charges.

Since 2003, Camperdown's light bill has moved from about $200,000 per month to almost $500,000 per month. The cost of security services has increased several times.

Sometimes, the innovations of the Ministry of Education have run ahead of its ability to finance the programmes suggested. Indeed, we, as principals, have been called on to be visionaries without the necessary support. Schools have seen the need for remedial teachers, deans of discipline and other necessary support staff, which are not on the establishment of the school. Many schools now have management systems that have a large purchasing and maintenance cost.

supplemental fees

The cost of entering competitions, whether it be choir, football, debating, chess or School's Challenge Quiz, is enormous. Every competition requires a coach, travelling and other preparation expenses. If a student gets injured while representing the school, the parents want the school to pay these sometimes enormous medical bills. All these are funded from supplemental fees. Many of these costs were not included in that 2003 estimate.

In spite of what we have heard about the declining standards of the education system, the number of students qualifying for sixth form has increased exponentially over the last 15 years. This, together with the requirements of the CAPE examination, has increased the cost of maintaining a sixth form in school. No more do you have science groups with five-15 students. The numbers are now 35 and more. Schools have resorted to hiring part-time teachers and pay them from the fees. It takes five times the cost of keeping a student in grades one to 11, to have one in sixth form. The large number that qualify, and the cost, force us to set minimum standards for entry. We cannot take everyone.

There are schools that are supported by large endowments from past students, schools that are fully supported by Government, and then there are schools like Camperdown High. We cannot call on the Government if we need a perimeter wall constructed. We cannot ask for support with classrooms, rewiring the school or putting in new bathrooms as required by the sanitary inspection report. I could go on and on.

I assume that the Government is trying to speak out against the large sum charged by some schools. However, the parents of most of the children who attend those schools WILL PAY! Many of the schools which were not getting a large compliance rate with the payment of fees were supplemented by government subventions.

insufficient

This increase by the Government will now improve their intake, although I think it will still be insufficient. Schools like Camperdown will suffer greatly. Because of the pronouncements by Government, the majority of the parents will refuse to pay.

We are now left in a difficult situation. Principals feel that the minister has established a parent-versus-principal conflict. We will now revert to the situation where the schools that have students from the lower financial group in our country will be denied the quality education afforded their more affluent counterparts. The options available to us are: keep our fees and expose ourselves to the abuse from parents, especially those who would rather spend $6,000 on a hairstyle than on their child's education; or, just adopt the attitude of 'Anywhere the money finish, that's it.'

Cynthia P. Cooke is principal, Camperdown High School. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com