Praise for fees-free move
Parents of children at schools that have ditched charging fees are praising the move for making education affordable and family budgets work.
Two Palmerston North schools, Ross Intermediate and Roslyn primary school, are among those to ditch the pretence of voluntary donations in a move supported by mums and dads.
Pupils at the school will not be asked for donations, charged sports fees, asked for sports uniform fees, or asked for field trip or special subject costs. And while Ross has a uniform, Roslyn children wear mufti.
Other schools across the country are also toying with a fees-free policy, after the Labour Party’s general election campaign pledge last year to fund schools not seeking donations an extra $150 a child.
Becks Dunning has three children, including two at Roslyn School. She is a single working mum, but says she’s heard couples are also finding it tricky to afford school costs.
‘‘I can’t even begin to say what a relief it’s been,’’ she said of the school-fee burden lifting.
‘‘It’s actually enabled me to personally enjoy summer with my kids, because there hasn’t been that looming problem of ‘how am I going to pay for everything for my kids?’
‘‘Everyone’s been talking about it. Everyone’s just excited. Walking in to school on the first day, it was just buzzing. There were no stressed parents. Normally, everyone’s going to the office with their eftpos card or cheque book, and there was none of that.’’
Dunning said her kids love Roslyn and she plans to find non-monetary ways to support the school, including helping fundraising.
Mike Toki is dad to four children in school, including one at Ross and two at Roslyn. His older son is at high school.
Toki supports the fees-free move. ‘‘My wife and I are both working, but still it helps with four kids. It’s great. What we save here goes back into our older boy’s costs at high school. It was quite a bit last year.’’
He said Roslyn School sports teams, especially, needed more support and he hoped parents who were not working would be able to offer some extra help.
Carolyn Hautapu, who has a child at Roslyn, said the free-school scheme, and providing stationery packs, would help remove barriers some children face.
‘‘Some children have to wait days or weeks into school for their stationery, so to have their stationery all ready and waiting for them is excellent.
‘‘It means a lot as it can be hard to finance stationery, fees and in some cases uniforms. It’s just awesome to have no stress from fees.’’
The principals of both schools have said parents are happy with the decision.
Roslyn School principal Jo How said she was still getting positive feedback.
There had been an increase in enrolments over last year, she said.
‘‘But I don’t think it’s because of the fees, it’s the normal ups and downs. People are moving into the area and they’ve heard it’s a great school.
‘‘The intention was not to use it to increase the roll, but to bring equity to our families.’’
Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the election promise for extra funding to schools that do not request donations will be included in this year’s Budget.
‘‘It’s... enabled me to enjoy summer with my kids, because there hasn’t been that looming problem of ‘how am I going to pay for everything for my kids?’’’ Becks Dunning