Parents need to get their priorities right

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Recently, the principal of the high school my child attends sent a letter appealing to parents to make good on their parental contributions. Alternatively, students were being asked to contribute $1,000 each towards the running of the school.

The letter outlined the following:

n Of 349 students in grade seven, no parental contribution had been received to date for 120 students, and partial payment from 22;

- Of 338 students in grade eight, no payment from 217 and part payment from 15;

- Of 346 students in grade nine, no payment from 198 and part payment from 31;

- Of 349 in grade 10, no payment from 218 and part payment from 25;

- Of 368 in grade 11, no payment 275 and part payment from 16;

- Of 152 in grade 12, no payment from 66 and part payment from 18;

- Of 98 in grade 13, no payment from 57 and part payment from 13.

The principal indicated, as he has over the past five years, that the funding received from the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) is inadequate to run the school. Even amid COVID-19 disruptions, it was said to be not enough to deal with added requirements for sanitisation when there were hybrid classes. By MOEY policy, schools cannot sanction students whose parents don’t pay. While some will cite people facing financial pressure as the main cause for the low contribution rate, this is hard to accept when it is also reported that almost 100 per cent of the students have costly smartphones.

While I do not support locking out students, some pressure must be put on irresponsible parents who are acting like parasites on a host. I know some people are facing difficult situations, but ironically, it has also been reported that it is the poorer parents who will make the effort to arrange a payment plan and give a little over time. The more affluent ones drive up in their fancy cars to drop off their children and leave with not a care in the world.

I suspect this school is not singular in its experience, although the levels of delinquency may vary. Something has to give.

At the same time, the school administration is to be blamed, too. As a parent, I see far more frequent appeals to support the sports programmes and contributions from past students than I see in relation to the academic programme.

Everyone, parents especially, the Government and school administration needs to get their priorities right.

CECIL AIKEN