Govt. schools overcharging parents for school activities: Stalin

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), alleged that government schools are collecting significant amounts of money from parents for various school activities.  Addressing the media CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that prominent schools traditionally charge parents for activities such as wall and desk painting, sports events and functions as there is insufficient funding allocated by the Education Ministry.   

“Despite the government allocating only a small portion of the Gross National Income (GNI) to schools, which is far below the proposed six percent, parents are left to cover the costs of school maintenance, he said.  
Stalin highlighted the financial burden on parents, citing examples of schools collecting up to Rs. 5,000 from a single parent. Annually, each parent of a student in a class contributes Rs. 53,000 per year. He expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in these collections and criticized the government’s inaction despite complaints lodged with the Education Ministry.  
Stalin emphasized the need for an impartial investigation into these complaints, suggesting that the government’s failure to act implies tacit approval of these practices. He warned of potential actions by the CTU, supported by parents, if the government does not address these issues promptly.