Source: NST online, Frontpage
Date: 2008/01/05
Extra charges 'not binding'
By : Deborah Loh
PUTRAJAYA: Contributions by parents to their children's schools and to parent-teacher associations are not compulsory, the education minister said yesterday.
Addressing confusion among some parents that "school fees" remained high despite the government's move to scrap them from this year, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the additional payments were not fees as such, but "requests" by the PTAs and schools which were not binding upon parents."I've repeatedly said they are not compulsory. Parents who feel they are unable to afford or cannot agree, don't have to comply."If they cannot make these contributions in one lump sum, they are allowed to pay in stages. "There is really no issue here, as these contributions are not compulsory, and those who feel that schools or their PTAs are forcing them can always complain to the ministry," he said.
They may call the ministry's hotline at 03-8884 6000 between 8am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.Newspapers reported that some parents were taken aback on Wednesday, the first day of school, when they were asked to pay more than RM100 in some cases, for maintenance, co-curricular classes, the school's sports day, school magazines, and security and insurance services.Last September, the government announced that it would abolish the school fee of RM4.50 per primary pupil and RM9 per secondary school student.Lost in the cheers that greeted this announcement was the fine print that this did not include other payments requested by the schools and the PTAs."The majority of parents feel this is not a real burden, only a few do. If these few feel it is a burden, like I've said, it is not something we insist upon."Hishammuddin added that a circular had been sent last year to all schools on guidelines, placing a ceiling on the amount that could be requested from parents.The Oct 30 circular stated a maximum of RM38.50 for primary schools and RM55.50 for secondary schools to cover co-curricular and sports activities. Asked about Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's comment in Kota Baru on Thursday that the government would look into reducing the amount of these contributions, Hishammuddin said it was not necessary."I agree with the DPM on the principle that it would give equal access to all pupils to go to school, but there is no need to abolish these contributions because they are not compulsory."We also should not stop those who can afford and want to contribute to the schools."Hishammuddin was speaking to reporters after delivering his new year's message to ministry staff and school heads at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.In his speech, he reviewed the ministry's success since the launching of its National Education Blueprint Plan 2006-2010."Just because we were successful last year in implementing our targets under the plan, we must not be complacent and continue our focus this year."He said the ministry's second report card on implementation of the plan would be ready this month for tabling to the cabinet.
Date: 2008/01/05
Extra charges 'not binding'
By : Deborah Loh
PUTRAJAYA: Contributions by parents to their children's schools and to parent-teacher associations are not compulsory, the education minister said yesterday.
Addressing confusion among some parents that "school fees" remained high despite the government's move to scrap them from this year, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the additional payments were not fees as such, but "requests" by the PTAs and schools which were not binding upon parents."I've repeatedly said they are not compulsory. Parents who feel they are unable to afford or cannot agree, don't have to comply."If they cannot make these contributions in one lump sum, they are allowed to pay in stages. "There is really no issue here, as these contributions are not compulsory, and those who feel that schools or their PTAs are forcing them can always complain to the ministry," he said.
They may call the ministry's hotline at 03-8884 6000 between 8am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.Newspapers reported that some parents were taken aback on Wednesday, the first day of school, when they were asked to pay more than RM100 in some cases, for maintenance, co-curricular classes, the school's sports day, school magazines, and security and insurance services.Last September, the government announced that it would abolish the school fee of RM4.50 per primary pupil and RM9 per secondary school student.Lost in the cheers that greeted this announcement was the fine print that this did not include other payments requested by the schools and the PTAs."The majority of parents feel this is not a real burden, only a few do. If these few feel it is a burden, like I've said, it is not something we insist upon."Hishammuddin added that a circular had been sent last year to all schools on guidelines, placing a ceiling on the amount that could be requested from parents.The Oct 30 circular stated a maximum of RM38.50 for primary schools and RM55.50 for secondary schools to cover co-curricular and sports activities. Asked about Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's comment in Kota Baru on Thursday that the government would look into reducing the amount of these contributions, Hishammuddin said it was not necessary."I agree with the DPM on the principle that it would give equal access to all pupils to go to school, but there is no need to abolish these contributions because they are not compulsory."We also should not stop those who can afford and want to contribute to the schools."Hishammuddin was speaking to reporters after delivering his new year's message to ministry staff and school heads at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.In his speech, he reviewed the ministry's success since the launching of its National Education Blueprint Plan 2006-2010."Just because we were successful last year in implementing our targets under the plan, we must not be complacent and continue our focus this year."He said the ministry's second report card on implementation of the plan would be ready this month for tabling to the cabinet.
No comments:
Post a Comment