The Ministry of Education (MOE) has budgeted just over $226.3 million in additional financial support for six Corporate Area high schools and one in St Thomas for fiscal year 2017/ 2018.

The funding, which is outside of their monthly subventions, covers areas such as tuition, furniture supplies, TVET equipment, ICT support, apprenticeship programme, the Career Advancement Programme, part-time, temporary and no-teaching staff, and PATH feeding programme.

Letters have been dispatched to the principals of these schools which were cited in complaints to the Education Ministry for breaching the Government’s non-mandatory auxiliary fees policy.

According to Education Minister Ruel Reid, given these figures, there is no basis for claims that only $17,000 is being spent on each child.

In the meantime, the minister has withdrawn his reference to school administrators cited as being in breach of the policy as evidence of “corruption and extortion”.

“I withdraw the reference. I am emphasising however that the schools must comply with the announced policy,” Senator Reid said.

— JIS