Tardy fee-payers threatened

By PHIL ENGLISH

The Ministry of Education is looking into whether a Muslim school in Mangere can send students home if their parents do not pay compulsory school fees by today.

The state-integrated Al-Madinah School wants to collect outstanding school fees from 2002 and 2003.

It is understood that about 45 families owe the school money.

A message also outlining guidelines for after-school detention was sent to parents last week asking them to pay before 9.30 this morning.

"If no action is taken to pay the fees then the school and board of trustees has no option but to send the students home."

Parents who did not pay were asked to collect their children from the school by 10am, said the message, marked "very urgent".

But late yesterday the chairman of the board of trustees finance subcommittee, Aruf Khan, said he hoped the issue would resolve itself today after the school spoke to parents.

"It's not something new. They are fully aware of the situation."

School officials including principal Asin Ali would not speak about the issue last week but the school, with a roll of nearly 360, has been having a problem getting parents to pay a compulsory portion of school fees relating to attendance dues.

Fees for the year amount to $300. The compulsory portion, which state-integrated schools can charge, is about $250.

A spokesman for the ministry said clarity was being sought from the school about whether it was seeking compulsory or voluntary school fees.

Asked if the school could legally send students home for non-payment, the spokesman said the ministry would be concerned if students were being sent home.

"The school receives a very large contribution from the state to provide tuition.

"Our primary concern would be that those children are in school receiving the benefit of that tax-funded contribution."