The Department of Education has clarified the legal context surrounding the collection of project fees in schools, stating that no fees can be charged without prior approval from the appropriate education boards or through the government’s free education policy.

Secretary for Education, Dr. Uke Kombra, stressed that project fees, which are intended to fund specific school initiatives, must be approved through a formal process.

“Schools cannot collect any fees unless they have the proper authorization from the relevant education authorities.”

The Department has noticed that some schools attempt to collect unauthorized fees under various names, such as "administration fees" which are deemed illegal.

“School inspectors are tasked with monitoring compliance.”

“If a headmaster/headmistress is involved, he/she will be asked to justify and prove to us where is the decision to collect additional fees – and if there’s no justifiable answer, they will get a warning first before facing suspension.”

For schools planning self-reliant projects, fees can only be collected if the project is approved by the relevant education board.

“If a school is undertaking a specific project, such as constructing a classroom, parents may choose to contribute, but it must be reasonable and affordable.”

These contributions must be voluntary, and the fees should be affordable for all families, with clear communication about the purpose and amount of the fee.