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Parents 'pressurised' into making contributions to schools
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 31/08/2011.
Tags: Education And PoliticsMany parents may be feeling under pressure to make financial contributions to their children's schools, despite the fact such donations are voluntary.
This is according to the Irish Times, which warned some schools are sending out letters and resorting to other tactics in order to convince families to offer money.
Jackie Callaghan, spokeswoman for the National Parents Council post-primary (NCPpp), said some institutions have effectively made contributing mandatory, highlighting one report where a school had publicly posted a list of donors so the identities of those who had not given cash were known.
"If you don't send your child to a fee-paying school because you don't have the money, you don't have the money. It should be voluntary, there should never be a threat made to students or parents," she stated.
Ms Callaghan said donations of around 150 euros have become routine, while some families are paying up to 500 euros to their children's schools.
This week, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn stressed that contributions are voluntary and schools cannot request donations before awarding a child a place.
The NCPpp aims to support parents and give them more of a say in Ireland's education system at a local and national level.
Written by Donal Walsh
Marie
(13-09-2011 21:13)
My school itemises the charge PER child ie 250. They state to let them know immediately if Not paying "To avoid embarrassment" when they issue reminders to the people who are exposed for not paying! I am a single parent and work hard myself and can ill afford to subsidise "Free education"...so called!!
Shane
(31-08-2011 13:18)
If schools are looking for voluntary contributions, they should at a minimum be publishing their accounts, so that parents know where the money is going.
Joyce
(31-08-2011 14:38)
We get a letter every term asking for our "voluntary" contribution, if it's overdue we get a reminder! When I pointed out the irony the school just didn't get it. Would much prefer if they just called them school fees instead of patronising us and calling it "Voluntary" when it obviously isn't.
Siobhan_delight
(03-09-2011 01:42)
We've given E250 each year for 3 years per child (3) to one school in Dublin. They are in the process of building rooms that will benefit the employees of the school, not the children. The classrooms are so jammed with students that there is very little room to walk between the desks. The classes are so large that I have to teach my kids at home what they don't learn from their teachers, when the teachers are too busy to answer questions. If you don't pay, your child or children are left out of some of the activities due to behaviour problems no one has ever mentioned before as a problem. Granted all that may be coincidental, but then maybe not. The one thing that is a fact is they expect your money for a non-fee paying school, who has a principal making a wage I'll never have and teachers who are making more than I do to be "education managers", while I teach my 3 kids what they can't get answers for in school. I'm seriously considering homeschooling.
@Shane: They also need to produce better educated children that do not require dumbing down of exams. Am I the only one who sees the irony of paying people a lot more than most get, for a product that is not what it once was?
Rant over.