Namibian school fees: caution urged

Namibia: Principal Warns on Abolishing School Fees
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
"The suggestion that school fees in Namibia be abolished can only become a reality if the Government increases the per capita funding of learners in all the regions in the country." This was the response to a proposal contained last week in a UNICEF report, by the Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN). "By now it is common knowledge that education is the key to a successful future. In Namibia as per the Constitution basic education to all children is free. However, one needs to draw the distinction between school fees and school development funds," said the vice president of TUN, Chanville Mackrill, on inquiry. According to him school fees are not compulsory because no child needs to pay to belong to a school because education is free. "But school development funds are a much needed commodity for the development of every school ... Certain people demand quality education, but to deliver such quality education demands funding. Without such funding most schools suffer ... TUN will support the abolishment of school fees if it is aimed at orphans and vulnerable children (OVC )especially those schools in rural areas ...