School fees dilemma

Since the government announced the abolishment of school fees, lots of reactions from various quarters of the society some are in favour of the action while many still express their doubts on the issue as there are still fees to be paid though the government had said otherwise. Although the government had decided to abolished the school fees but now the parents have to fork out between RM23.50 to RM38.00 depending on certain factors such as socioeconomic status of the students.

Many argued that such move to abolish the fees and replacing it with another albeit the different names is an act of cheating and misleading by the government. They argued that if the government decided to abolish the fees than why put something else in its place, which is equivalent to fees? They further argued that there should not be anymore fees whatsoever. They want a totally free education system!

However, they seem to forget the old adage that there is no freebies in this world and if they expect their children to get the best in the education system therefore they have to sacrifice a lot. Sadly, many are willing to 'invest' in cigarettes, unnecessary entertainment, lavish accessories for themselves and their cars instead of investing in their children future. Admittedly, the government might had committed an error by announcing the abolishment of the school fees but they did so with a condition - the fees abolished referred to special fees and not incidental fees which I should say the 'life and soul' of any schools.

As rational Malaysians, we should realised that the schools do not receive enough funds for its operations. Oftentimes, the teachers themselves have to go deep into their pockets for some expenses which the school is unable to provide due to tight finance. At least with the 'packages', those teachers could lessen their burden as they themselves are parents. It is sad to see some who viewed the government's action as victimising the parents but have they also considered the sacrifices done by the teachers in incurring extra expenses which by right should be born by the biological parents?

Malaysians since time immemorial are used to subsidy and thus in terms of their own flesh and blood they expect to get everything for no cost. I am sure for those from poor or lower income families, they can ask for assistance and some kind of leeway. They can always discuss with the school or voice out their predicaments through the Parents Teachers Association. In fact, the decision to impose the new fee schedules is done through a thorough discussion with the parents. PTAs should play an active role in disseminating the rationale behind such decision to the parents since they are very close to the school, they should know everything that happen in the school and do not sitting there like lame ducks accepting whatever comes their way but later utter negative things about those decisions which de facto are theirs since they are members in the discussion with the school.

Not a lame duck