This is an agreed amount of money that parents pay to private schools. In Zambia, school fees vary considerably depending on the school. As a parent/guardian, you can pay per term or annually. Most schools offer flexible payment plans.
Fee is singular, and fees plural, but both have almost the same meaning. A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services, specifically payments to a doctor, lawyer, consultant, or other member of a learned profession. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and mark-up.
Day prep fees can range from £10,000 to £20,000 or more in London and day fees for senior schools can range from £12,000 to £25,000 per annum. The average senior boarding fees are around £35,000 p.a. but some senior boarding schools are now exceeding £45,000 per annum.
A fee is a fixed price charged for a specific service. Fees are applied in a variety of ways such as costs, charges, commissions, and penalties. Fees are most commonly found in heavily transactional services and are paid in lieu of a wage or salary.
However, if parents pay their children's school fees early enough, it assists the schools in providing some kind of quality education and manageability”. It is also equally important for parents to get actively involved in the activities of the school to overcome these financial woes.
Fundraising is now a norm at many if not all public schools in order to sustain the needs of the school. Fundraising is also a means to compensate towards the monthly necessary expenses. However, there exists a culture of non-payment of school fees by the majority of parents who can afford to pay. This culture in parents needs to change if we want to see quality education in our schools.
This funding is quickly consumed by the ever increasing costs of lights, water, telephone and maintenance costs of the school. Schools have to also budget for extra staff, stationery, purchase/rental of photocopier and, insurance premiums, etc. At most schools these departmental funds last about a term. Where does the additional money come from? Only from school fees, if they are paid.
Parents should be responsible enough to discuss an acceptable payment plan with the school governing body to ensure that their child’s school fees are settled as early as possible so that the school can afford their monthly expenses. Fundraising is a challenge in these tough socio-economic times. However, if parents pay their children’s school fees early enough, it assists the schools in providing some kind of quality education and manageability”.
It is also equally important for parents to get actively involved in the activities of the school to overcome these financial woes. Parents can assist in organising fundraising ventures in partnerships with employers and business houses.
If the above are implemented, then our children would receive the quality of education prudent for their sound didactic growth and development.