Parents must pay auxiliary fees – Jamaica Gleaner – Wednesday | June 20, 2012

Parents must pay auxiliary fees – education minister – Lead Stories – Jamaica Gleaner – Wednesday | June 20, 2012.

In making his contribution to the 2012-2013 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, Thwaites said the $11,500 subsidy provided by the Government for direct tuition for each child at the secondary level was insufficient to meet the reasonable cost of quality high-school education.

“Auxiliary fees, therefore, represent a necessary part of a school’s ability to finance their operations. These fees, which are worked out in conjunction with representatives of parents and principals, are not optional extras which you pay if you feel like,” the minister said.

Yesterday, Thwaites insisted that families who can’t pay the auxiliary fees one time must be given the opportunity to pay it over the school year.

“Supporting your child in school must come before the Rizzla and the rum; before the hair extensions and the bashment clothes; before the numbers game and the racehorse bets,” the minister said.

In the meantime, Thwaites noted that nearly half the population is on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). He acknowledged that parents cannot afford to pay for auxiliary fees for children on PATH and said the state should seek to give schools more money to support their education.

“The Ministry of Education is pleading with the ministries of finance and social security to contribute $2,000 a year for each PATH student beneficiary. It is a matter of justice and equity, not charity,” Thwaites said.