Students in a particular area of New Zealand, Whangarei might be forced to learn in a hallway or refused entry to particular subjects if their parents do not pay compulsory course fees. Whangarei Boys High School headmaster Al Kirk says about $10,000 is owed from the previous year.
Unlike school donations which are on a voluntary basis, course fees are mandatory for subjects with considerable take-home items, like tools for technology or photography. The school’s plan is to single out students who have not yet paid, teaching them in a hall until the debt is settled.
Not surprisingly, the plan has been met with condemnation from the New Zealand Education Ministry, but headmaster Kirk asserts that parents who are “genuinely” not able to pay fees can speak to the school about payment options, and after all, a budget group is available to give parents advice.
But Mr. Kirk feels as though the problem is more from parents who refuse to pay because they think education should be free of charge- high school education has not been free since the 1960s. The school used the same plot in 2008 and 90 to 98 percent of parents paid immediately, according to Kirk.
Obviously this plan has its critics. “The fact that this school would single out childrenchildren who have nothing to do with their parent’s financesit’s unfathomable” laments Jacob D. Almeida, education expert.
Local critics have mentioned that there are a number of ways to collect the legitimate charges: re-payment plans, or as a last resort, a third party debt collection agency could deal with the parents who won’t pay. Headmaster Kirk alleges that it wouldn’t be cost efficient to use a debt collection agency.
This problem is also an issue for other schools in the area as well. One local school is considering not allowing a student to take a course that their parents cannot pay for. “It’s a big issue that needs to be critically and carefully addressed,” says Jacob D. Almeida. “We don’t do that lightly.
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