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NLIS 3
September 20, 2000
(Education)

 

School fees - what parents should know

The Department of Education set the record straight, today, regarding the issue of fees being charged to parents of the province�s students.

"Parents of students in the province�s K-12 system need to know government�s policy according to the Schools Act 1997 regarding school fees," said acting Education Minister Beaton Tulk. "Schools can only charge parents for items which are actually given to the students. This would include such items as workbooks, lab books, pencils and crayons. Schools may not charge for enrolment in a course or program, blanket fees for services such as photocopying or for items such as computer or phys-ed supplies.

In addition, payment is voluntary, no student may be denied enrolment in a course or program because of non-payment and fees must be approved by respective school councils before they may be levied.

"School boards know the regulations. A memo was sent last year in this regard and another was sent to boards this year. The regulations are clear. There should be no confusion," added the minister.

Under the Schools Act 1997 schools may charge fees if:

  • the fee is charged only once during a school year;

  • the fee is levied instead of or to supplement fundraising;

  • the fee is approved by the school council;

  • the fee is levied in accordance with school board by-laws;

  • the payment of the fee is voluntary.

Shortly after forming the government the Wells administration eliminated school taxes and adopted the policy that the cost of K-12 education would be paid for by the province.

"Government is committed to education in this province. We cover 100 per cent of the cost of textbooks up to Grade 8 and 40 per cent from Grades 9 to 12. Government�s expenditure per student is the second-highest in Atlantic Canada - second only to New Brunswick which has a dual system with French and English streams," said Minister Tulk.

He added that the department also covers the cost of student field trips, including busing, when they are part of regular instruction but does not cover extracurricular activities such as the travel of sports teams.

Media contact: Andrea Maunder, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2000 09 20 3:35 p.m.


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