Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Holness

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has encouraged schools not to prevent students from attending classes because of their inability to pay auxiliary fees.

These fees, which vary from school to school, usually cover developmental, PTA, insurance and laboratory fees, among others, and range between $2,000 and $12,000.

Auxiliary fees are not mandatory, but schools usually ask that students pay them at the beginning of each school year.

While the JLP, during its political campaign and in its manifesto, promised to abolish cost sharing and has committed to keep that promise now that it is to form the next Government, some parents are still not aware that auxiliary fees are not included in cost sharing.

"No child should be turned away because of inability to pay (and) we encourage principals and schools not to unduly increase auxiliary fees," Andrew Holness, Member of Parliament-elect and former Opposition Spokesman on Education told The Gleaner yesterday.

"We realise that those fees play an important role in funding overheads (and) we encourage parents to pay those fees to the best of their ability," he added

Meanwhile, Holness said the JLP will also be paying tuition fees for students in sixth form. He also reiterated that the JLP will work out a mechanism to repay parents who had already paid school fees when it assumes office.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com