BY NADINE WILSON Observer staff reporter wilsonn@jamaicaobserver.com Monday, July 07, 2014
THE National Parent-Teachers' Association (NPTA) has charged that schools are using graduation ceremonies to raise money, and is urging parents to boycott the school-leaving event.
Everton Hannam, the NPTA president, made the call last week amidst growing complaints from parents about the high costs associated with the events.
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| Graphic: Rorie Atkinson |
"A graduation exercise has, in many cases, become a fund-raising exercise for most of the schools. When I look at what the students get, based on the money they pay, I am inclined to believe that some of them have become fund-raising exercises for those who organise them," Hannam told the Jamaica Observer.
"We have received complaints starting at the primary school and even at the basic school [level] and it's like $6,000 or $7,000 for graduation, and they are getting just a corsage and a certificate. It should not be," Hannam said.
The exorbitant fees being requested for these ceremonies have been a long-standing concern for parents and have even been addressed by Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, who has urged parents to try and minimise spending for such events.
However, scores of parents attended graduation exercises at early childhood, primary and secondary schools last week, and more are in preparation mode to attend this week.
Hannam believes nothing will be done to reduce these costs until parents start to protest the payments. The best way he believes parents can do so is to not attend.
"We need to be more proactive and start acting in a more organised and more serious way," he said.
He said the PTAs also have a part to play in ensuring that parents are not being fleeced of their hard-earned money, and as such, the matter of school graduations will be up for discussion at the NPTA annual general meeting this month. more
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