Schools ‘keeping refundable charges’

PARENTS have accused secondary schools of keeping refundable charges for registering students each year.

The National Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parent Associations said it has become common practice for schools to ask families for a booking fee of up to 150 every summer.

But, while they are entitled to do so, CSPA spokesperson Barbara Johntston said a number of schools are not

returning the money when the children take up their place.

“The schools are sending out re-registration forms, but parents are not being told they can get the money back, it’s being called a charge.

"School boards should be asking the Department of Education for more money if they can’t meet their running cots, not imposing charges on parents,” she said.

“We have had calls from parents who can’t afford these payments and they are worried their children will lose their place in the school if they don’t pay it,” said Ms Johnston.

She said parents are also being faced with financial demands for photocopying costs and end-of-year exams, but charges for anything that is compulsory or part of the school curriculum must be asked for in a voluntary capacity.

The practice of charging booking fees started a few years ago to discourage parents from registering children in a number of schools and help principals organise class timetables and resources.

The Joint Managerial Body, representing school boards at more than 450 second-level schools, said there is no widespread practice of asking parents for fees.

“We have not had any complaints about schools keeping the money, but if there are issues of concern we would advise schools on best practice,” said JMB general secretary George O’Callaghan.

“We have very serious concern about the level of funding for our schools and maybe some schools are being forced to keep some of the fees, but any contribution from parents have to be voluntary,” he said.

A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed schools are allowed to charge a booking fee, but it must be refunded when the child starts back in the autumn.

“We haven’t had any major complaints about money being kept, but people have been ringing us to ask if schools were allowed charge in the first place,” she said.

The department spokesperson said secondary schools are paid a capitation fee of €266.49 for every one of the country’s 340,000 second-level students.