Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

Some school administrators are claiming that the collection of auxiliary school fees has significantly dropped, making it harder for them to function and procure equipment to enhance the quality of education offered.

A representative from a prominent Corporate Area high school told The Gleaner that the rate of compliance has dropped since the Ministry of Education began stressing that auxiliary fees were not mandatory.

"The fees allow for the procurement of equipment, computers and partially (cover) maintenance," the school's bursar said. "The fees cover what the school budget cannot, but the pronouncements made by the Government have impacted the level of compliance we are accustomed to."

The representative who wished not to be named argued that comments made by Minister of Education Andrew Holness have impacted future developments, such as the expansion of the school to create additional classrooms. She said the $4,000 fee charged by the school was nominal in comparison to other schools.

Michael Stewart, president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, pointed to research conducted among his colleagues, which revealed that it costs more than the school tuition of $10,500 per child, subsidised by the Government, to run a school. He stressed that since the removal of tuition fees last September, the compliance rate from parents has reduced significantly, from 60 per cent in previous years to 45 per cent. He claimed this was due to the perception of parents, who think that the Government covers all school fees.

Emergency meeting

Principal of Clarendon College, David Wilson, told The Gleaner that the school recently held an emergency meeting with parents to explain what its auxiliary fees of $8,000 cover. Wilson broke down the fees, which cover $2,500 for security, $1,500 for the science laboratory, $2,500 for the procure-ment and maintenance of com-puters and $1,500 for sports.

"We are aware that the Govern-ment cannot adequately cover the requisite costs to run the school for the entire year," he said. "So, we have asked the parents to make that contribution and outline to them how much it will cost to manage the schools."

St George's College in Kingston charges $10,000 in auxiliary fees to cover a range of expenses, including additional security and laboratory fees, but insurance at $6,000 is optional. At St Hugh's auxiliary fees total $12,500, with $500 allocated for the PTA and the rest identified as a general account.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com