- JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students listen keenly during a presentation at the Education Expo at Girl Guides Association of Jamaica headquarters on Waterloo Road, St. Andrew, on May 3.
Cynthia P. Cooke, Contributor
AS THE principal of a secondary school, I am very disturbed about the public discussions now taking place regarding school fees. The principals are being portrayed as evil beings, without hearts, trying to oppress poor people.
The argument is being presented, that the government has tried to ease the burden on these poor parents, by paying a half of the school fees and these wicked principals have manufactured fees which have cancelled the effect of this gesture.
I will now present the facts as it relates to Camperdown High School. For the past six years, the approved fee (fee approved by the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture) has been $8,200. This includes $1,000 for book rental, which MUST be handed over to the ministry. The number of students on roll is 1,400.
EXPENDITURE
A glance at expenditure for the last two years has approximately $250,000 per month for electricity. We have two security guards at the school for 24 hours each day. These two major items from our recurring expenditure will give a feel of the amount of money needed each month. In addition, there is water and telephone, weekly repairs to plumbing and electrical fixtures. Maintaining computers, providing the necessary teaching materials for laboratories and other specialist areas adds up to a tidy sum. This by no means accounts for all items in the budget.
By now any reasonable person will realise, that if we collect ALL the fees (which we don't), we still cannot meet the requirements for the necessary expenditure. Where must the extra money come from? It has stopped growing on trees!
For the school year 2004-2005, our fee account was empty by the beginning of February. I had to borrow $1,500,000 and that, too, ran out before the year ended. The Ministry gave us $500,000 from what they owed us and that, too, ran out. By June we had to use $500,000 from funds raised for special projects. What will happen this year?
INCREASING COSTS
The government will pay half of the school fees! How much is that? $4,100. We will only get $3,100, since $1,000 will go towards book rental. Students for whom the government paid full fees in the past will only have one half of their fees paid. That used to be about 250 students. Only 17 students will now have their full fees ($8,200) paid by the government. This is the number on PATH.
Since the last time our school fee was raised six years ago, everybody can name the costs that have increased. We eagerly await the electricity and minimum wage increases.
We had a fire at school during the holidays. This will add at least another $3 million to our expenditure for this year. Who will pick up the cost? Information technology is the hottest word on everybody's lips. From which fund is the technician (which we must have) to be paid. So what should the principal do?
One option is to sit and wait until government provides us with funds to fill the gap, such as postponing the reopening of school until the damaged property is replaced. We could concentrate on fund-raising all year or just provide for what we can.
USER CONTRIBUTION
We have decided that the users of the facility should contribute to the cost. These are the extra fees. It has been suggested that these should be optional. Let us examine that. Should we offer these services provided to only those who pay? How about when we purchase computers, should we only allow those who pay to use them? Everybody benefits, so everyone should be required to pay.
School is a place where the whole person should be catered to. We should develop the whole being, body, mind and soul. We have become so self-centred and selfish and have forgotten how to build community. Parents are encouraging their children to contribute to or participate in only that which benefit them personally. I wish we would look at the messages we are sending to our youngsters and stop it!
No principal adds fees for personal gain. Everything redounds to the benefit of the students. We are using poverty as an excuse to carry on this awful discussion. We will take care of those who cannot pay (as we have been doing all along).
I beg to conclude that we are not advocating on behalf of poverty of the pocket, but poverty of the mind, soul and spirit. Let us look at who benefits from these discussions and who are the ultimate losers.
Cynthia P. Cooke is the principal of Camperdown High School.
