Parents in the Kavango East region have raised concerns over schools asking them to contribute towards holiday classes despite the government funding such programmes.
The concerns follow the request of Max Makushe Senior Secondary School in the Mukwe constituency for parents to contribute N$500 towards holiday classes offered in the first trimester.
Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp says the government provides funding for holiday classes, but parents may voluntarily contribute towards specific expenses if they wish to do so.
She says the government covers costs such as food, study materials and payments for teachers involved in holiday classes.
“It is not a must, but we do encourage parents to pay toward specific expenses of the holiday classes.
If there are cases where parents have been defrauded or exploited, it must be brought to our attention for us to launch an investigation, unearth such corrupt practices, and hold such individuals accountable,” she says.
Divundu constituency community activist Aron Mundanya says the practice of parents paying for holiday classes is restricting and prevents pupils from poor backgrounds from benefiting from such programmes.
He says this also exploits parents who are not informed that the government contributes to holiday classes.
“Parents are then pressured to pay for these classes with their last money or accumulate debt just to give their children an equal opportunity.
I know of many children who have not attended such classes because their parents or grandparents cannot afford it, while these payments are not needed because the government is funding it.
“Schools must do away with this practice and let all pupils attend with the money given by the government,” he says.
Max Makushe Senior Secondary School principal Godfrey Mukata yesterday said the holiday classes were the school’s own initiative, and the education ministry only provided the school with food upon request.
He said as a result the school asked parents to contribute N$500 to cover the salaries of the 25 teachers and 10 hostel staff members involved.
“We had a meeting with parents prior to the holiday classes and told them about the contribution to cater for salaries.
We even clarified that the programme is not compulsory and those who are unable to afford it are not obliged.
“Hence, parents agreed and about 333 pupils paid the N$500.
The government will only fully fund the upcoming holiday classes, which will include food and teachers’ salaries,” Mukata said.
Kavango East regional education director Christine Shilima yesterday said she could not comment on the issue as she was out of the office.
