Last Week Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh advised parents not to pay "one penny" to register their children at state-funded secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago."There should be no fees charged for any registrations or whatsoever...we are going to send out another circular and anybody found in contempt of that we will have to determine what should be done about it...because parents should not be forced to have to pay for something in the schools. The school system is free," Gopeesingh said.
However according to a report in the Trinidad Express at least one secondary school is defying the minister's directive and demanding that each student registering for the new school year must pay a fee of $300.
The paper reported Wednesday that the St Augustine Secondary School is calling it a compulsory contribution fee and asking for it from each of the 194 students who have been admitted to the school on the basis of the Secondary School Assessment (SEA) exam.
"If you did not pay the contribution fee you were told that the registration would be delayed until the fee is paid," the Express quoted one parent as saying.
The paper said it has received a copy of a congratulatory letter forwarded to successful pupils signed by school principal Dr Gabriel Julien outlining the registration requirements of the school. It said it was unable to reach Julien.
However the paper said a teacher who asked to remain anonymous explained that the fee pays for identification cards, personalised homework books, personalised report books and PTA dues.
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