By Petrina Francis, Education ReporterEDUCATION MINISTER Maxine Henry-Wilson has indicated that the Patterson administration was 'so far' on target to phase in free secondary education by 2005 -- a promise made by the ruling People's National Party (PNP) during the 2002 general elections campaign.
She also told The Gleaner that starting this September, Government will also pay the examination cost for students to sit one GCE subject -Human and Social Biology- in addition to the four CXC subjects already agreed on. However, some educators like Patrick Smith, a senior official at the Jamaica Teachers' Association ( JTA), doubts that phasing out the current system whereby secondary school students pay a portion of their tuition costs is the way to go. "The general philosophy of the Association is that basic education, especially in this day and age, must extend to the secondary level, but the main problem is economics", he argued.
COST SHARING
Mr. Smith, a former president of the JTA, explained that cost sharing had brought funds to school administration and he does not believe that the government will be able to fill the gap if this source of revenue were to be completely removed. "The government does not supply all the schools' needs. Most school administration that we know will be hard put to finding money to pay for their needs", he noted.
While acknowledging that the removal of cost sharing will slash the burden of parents to find tuition fees, the JTA spokesman noted that, realistically, the schools would be the ones with the problem.
Notwithstanding the Education Minister's 'on target' message, her ministry has stipulated that for the school year 2004/2005 it will contribute a maximum of 50 per cent of school fees under the cost-sharing scheme. This means that parents and guardians will have to absorb half of the school fees, or apply for grant aid from the State.
"I can say there has been no reduction in the school fees", noted Senator Anthony Johnson, Opposition Spokesman on Education, despite the Government's promise of a gradual reduction in cost sharing. Senator Johnson has based his view on reactions he has received from parents.
