School collection policy: Civil society submissions invited

The Policy and Research Division of Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has called for civil society inputs about new education policy presently being formulated regarding the collection of money from students by school authorities.

The controversy over a young student in Horana who stole coconuts in order to pay a contribution for painting her school has prompted authorities to formulate a new policy regarding the collection of money from students, the letter of invitation from Transparency International to civil society activists said.

TISL highlighted the fact that Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella had maintained that while there were circulars in effect prohibiting collecting donations from students for school activities, there was no mechanism for the Ministry of Education to take action against authorities flouting those instructions.

The letter said high ranking officials in the education sector and Principals had shared their views on this subject with TISL.

“While (the experts) believe in the need for a systematic and transparent mechanisms to collect money from students they also cautioned against issuing circulars without providing schools with the basic requirements needed to maintain them as it would not solve the problem,” TISL noted. TISL said parents who have either made a donation to School Development Boards (by official means) or in to the pockets of individuals with influence (by unofficial means) in order gain school admission may also have an opinion to express regarding this situation. “So will the Principals who have sought such payments and other officials in the education sector,” the letter said.