THE Ministry of Education has warned that stringent actions will be taken against any teacher or head teacher found guilty of debarring students from schools for non-payment of registration fees. The ministry is also calling on parents, members and other members of the general public to report schools which are excluding children for that reason to the Principal Education Officer (Georgetown), Marcel Hutson.
The advisory from the ministry reminded that only the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) has the authority to approve and collect monies from parents and no child must be debarred for the non-payment of such fees.
The ministry stated, too, that one-third of the PTA membership has to give their approval before any money can be collected.
A circular, last year, to all senior education officers and headteachers of all public schools, including the practical instructional centres, emphasised that children have a right to schooling without any preconditions.
The circular said headteachers and teachers are not permitted to request monetary donations from parents, members of the community, private or public agencies or other sources.
“Only the PTA has the authority to request donations (in cash or kind) and this must be approved at a statutory meeting, where at least 30 per cent of the parent population is present,” it stated.
It added that the meeting must be held in the last term of the current school year, to set the quantum to be requested in the new school year and the notice to the parents must clearly state that they are expected to make a decision on the amount of monetary donation that should be requested.
The document said all monetary donations must be acknowledged, kept and managed by the PTA and receipts issued by the treasurer, or any other member so authorised, in writing, by that body.
The Executive Committee of the PTA will exercise authority over all monetary matters and other committees they may appoint to assist them and retain all bank accounts and records for periodic audit.
The Principal Education Officer can be contacted on telephone number 226-0146.