THERE are too many conditions placed on schools that want to hold fundraising activities, says Govind Singh, the president of the School Management Association .
“You cannot use the children, you cannot ask the parents and you cannot force anybody,” he said.
“So everybody takes advantage to say that Government is giving you money so why should you collect money?
“So many schools have not conducted any fundraising since 2014.”
Mr Singh added the majority of parents were not willing to participate in fundraising. Veiuto Primary School manager Orisi Seruitanoa also said parents were used to the Free Education Grant and budgeted less on their children’s education.
“This adjustment could lead schools to look for alternative sources of funding which would mean additional expenses for parents,” he said.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Rosy Akbar urged parents to assist schools during fundraising events.
However, she also said fundraising activities in schools would be conducted on a voluntary basis.
“I hope that parents would contribute in those schools, any fundraising in schools that you would be engaged in will be voluntarily with no pressure put on you or your child to contribute financially to the school,” she said last Friday.
Ms Akbar said prior to 2014, school fees were levied but Government decided to take the burden off parents and the initiative would continue although it would be reduced.
She also said money raised during fundraising events would be used to fund school capital projects.
Ms Akbar said the reduction in grants announced recently would not have any impact on the day-to-day management of schools.
Ms Akbar said in the past, schools were only allowed to conduct one fundraising per year, but this year they could submit their request to fundraise to the ministry — if they intended to organise more than one fundraising.
