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Gov't to spend $1.1B on secondary school fees
The Ministry of Education and Youth will be spending some $1.1 billion on secondary school fees for the 2007/2008 academic year.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education and Youth, Maxine Henry-Wilson, at a press briefing to update the media on preparations for the new school year, which begins in September. The briefing was held recently at the ministry's Heroes Circle office in Kingston.
According to the Education Minister, the allocation will cover in full the fees for beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), as well as students who are wards of the state.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson also said the funds cover 75 per cent of the school fees for the children of teachers, administrative, and ancillary staff employed in the public school system.
"We have always paid the fees for PATH beneficiaries and wards of the state as well as 75 per cent of the fees of children of teachers, administrative and ancillary staff employed in the public school system," she reminded and "this year we will be spending some $1.1 billion on school fees for those two categories together with the 50 per cent of the endorsed fees for all other students." Acknowledging that the issue of school fees has been the subject of considerable public discussion, the Minister stated that "it has always been, and it continues to be the policy of the Government of Jamaica that no student is to be denied registration and access to any school because of their parents' inability to pay fees."
The Ministry of Education and Youth will be spending some $1.1 billion on secondary school fees for the 2007/2008 academic year.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education and Youth, Maxine Henry-Wilson, at a press briefing to update the media on preparations for the new school year, which begins in September. The briefing was held recently at the ministry's Heroes Circle office in Kingston.
According to the Education Minister, the allocation will cover in full the fees for beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH), as well as students who are wards of the state.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson also said the funds cover 75 per cent of the school fees for the children of teachers, administrative, and ancillary staff employed in the public school system.
"We have always paid the fees for PATH beneficiaries and wards of the state as well as 75 per cent of the fees of children of teachers, administrative and ancillary staff employed in the public school system," she reminded and "this year we will be spending some $1.1 billion on school fees for those two categories together with the 50 per cent of the endorsed fees for all other students." Acknowledging that the issue of school fees has been the subject of considerable public discussion, the Minister stated that "it has always been, and it continues to be the policy of the Government of Jamaica that no student is to be denied registration and access to any school because of their parents' inability to pay fees."