More schools will ask parents for voluntary contributions
Schools will need to ask parents to make more voluntary contributions, not less, in order to make up for a shortfall caused by a decrease in government capitation fees.
That's the message from school principals, who are slamming comments from The National Parent's Council, suggesting parents are being pressured into making 'voluntary' contributions.
Voluntary contributions are used to pay for arts and crafts materials, and for teaching resources that will enhance the classroom environment.
Joseph Fogarty, the principal of Corballa National School in West Sligo, admits he'll ask parents for contributions and will even send them reminders if they fail to pay.
But he says he'd leave it at that, and no-one is forced to hand over money, or penalised if they don't.
"Some of it has nothing to do with money, but bad administration on the part of the department because you'd imagine the capitation grant is there in September when schools come back.
"It doesn't come until December and then the rest comes in spring. That's just bad administration on the part of the government."
