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school fees at government schools
Oct. 14th, 2005 11:33 amWhen your children attend a governemt school in Victoria, you assume it will be a free education.
It isn't. T's school has a "subject and services fee" of $470 and G's school has "levies and charges" of $420, including "charges for expensive course options" - theatre studies, chemistry and physics. On top of these there are charges for excursions, internet access, and at T's school, the "Parent's association contribution".
To quote from a victorian government white paper on a review of the education and training legislation, published september 2005
"While the majority of parents make these contributions, some are unable to do so – it is for this reason that such levies are voluntary. The proposed new legislation would require schools to apply the following principles when seeking financial contributions: they are to be voluntary; a child is not to be refused benefi ts or services because the child’s parents do not make a contribution; a child is not to be approached or harassed for contributions; and finally, any record of contributions should be confidential."
Neither school includes the words "voluntary levy" in their letters, and the letter accompanying T's statement is worded similarly to a letter of demand.
I've always objected to these charges, and conscientiously objected to them, by not paying them. But I've never written the letter to the minister I always promised I would write in lieu of payment.
Perhaps I'm just a tightarse.
It isn't. T's school has a "subject and services fee" of $470 and G's school has "levies and charges" of $420, including "charges for expensive course options" - theatre studies, chemistry and physics. On top of these there are charges for excursions, internet access, and at T's school, the "Parent's association contribution".
To quote from a victorian government white paper on a review of the education and training legislation, published september 2005
"While the majority of parents make these contributions, some are unable to do so – it is for this reason that such levies are voluntary. The proposed new legislation would require schools to apply the following principles when seeking financial contributions: they are to be voluntary; a child is not to be refused benefi ts or services because the child’s parents do not make a contribution; a child is not to be approached or harassed for contributions; and finally, any record of contributions should be confidential."
Neither school includes the words "voluntary levy" in their letters, and the letter accompanying T's statement is worded similarly to a letter of demand.
I've always objected to these charges, and conscientiously objected to them, by not paying them. But I've never written the letter to the minister I always promised I would write in lieu of payment.
Perhaps I'm just a tightarse.
