( L - R ) Ruel Reid, Trevor Blake

The new Government needs to review the total allocation granted to school administrations, in addition to the full payment of tuition fees, school principals and representatives stated yesterday.

They were speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum held at the newspaper company's head office in central Kingston.

Trevor Blake, a board member of Hampton School for Girls in St. Elizabeth, said too much time is spent by school administrations trying to figure out how the institutions are to be financed.

"And so, the educational component is slipping," Mr. Blake said.

Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College and former president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, said many schools complain yearly of insufficient funds to properly finance the institutions. As a result, the auxiliary and development fees are charged.

Serious trouble

Mr. Blake noted that tuition fees at Hampton have not been increased in 10 years, while several miscellaneous fees have been hiked to assist with the operation of the institution.

"Without auxiliary charges, from about February, we would be in serious trouble," Mr. Blake said.

At the next negotiation, Mr. Reid said it wasimportant that the budgetary allocation to schools be increased.

At the same time, Charles Reid, principal of Kingston High School, said the new Government should free the schools from utility costs.

He said this was necessary "so we can use the money to run the schools efficiently".

And Miranda Sutherland, vice-president of the National Parent-Teacher Association, said a proper statement is needed from the Government explaining what portion of school fees would be covered.

"It needs to be made clear, in detail, what do these fees cover, and let us decide what portion parents should pay and what should the Government cover," Mrs. Sutherland said.

Mr. Reid said that usually, by March, school administrations become concerned about how they are going to finance the operations of the institutions.

"All principals will tell you that, annually by March, we have a headache to continue the school operations - we are out of funds," Mr. Reid said.