The unfolding school fee challenge facing parents
An article in today’s Solomon Star newspaper told of how parents and guardians will be faced with difficulties in paying school fees once classes resume from tomorrow, Monday.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has already caused much anguish and losses across the world with deaths, job losses, forced closure of businesses, food shortages, and the list of woes seems endless.
In the Solomon Islands, although still free from the deadly virus, people are suffering the effects of a loss of income due to the necessary but tough measures that have been imposed to keep the virus at bay.
I really do understand the real dilemma faced by parents and guardians over the requirements to pay the tuition fees for their children at school.
I suppose schools will need to continue to meet commitments over housekeeping, sanitation, upkeep of premises and maintenance but in the prevailing circumstances do schools have any latitude to temporarily waive school fees given the rise in the general hardships of the people?
I guess, on second thoughts, schools do not have such latitude to relax, waive or set-aside school fees, but does the government in terms of its SUS37, 5 million economic stimulus package announced by the Prime Minister on 5th May?
I really don’t know the answers but feel some relief should be forthcoming over school fees if at all possible.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
