Cabinet waives book rental fees for students

| 08/08/2008

(CNS): Parents with children attending government schools will not be required to pay book fees at the start of the upcoming school year in September, and any outstanding fees that were owed are no longer payable, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts announced Thursday, 7 August, saying that this Cabinet waiver represented a saving of up to $500 for many families.

For previous academic years, parents were charged a book rental fee of $50 for primary school students, $100 for middle school students in Years 7 to 9, and $150 for students in Years 10 to 12. Tibbetts noted as he made the announcement at the post-Cabinet media briefing that these mandatory fees are in addition to the other costs parents have to face at the start of the academic year, such as the provision of school uniforms and other requisite school supplies. He said it had been found that these fees were placing an additional financial strain on parents, especially those with limited income or with several children of school age.

“The myriad of changes taking place in our educational services rests on a foundation of equity, geared at ensuring that all students – regardless of circumstance or ability – are provided with the same opportunities. By removing the requirement to pay book fees, it is Government’s intention that all children, irrespective of their financial situations, will always have access to the school books which they need,” Tibbetts said.

The LoGB said the waiving of these fees placed an additional cost to Government of around $240,000 in lost revenue, but said Cabinet firmly believe that it is the right thing to do.

 

Category: Local News

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  1. Kerry Horek says:

    What an exceptional way to demonstrate to the people of the Cayman Islands that our Government can be genourous and compassionate at the same time. Well done PPM Government, and Hon. Ministers Tibbetts & McLaughlin, well done. May God continue to bless you and our Government.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone know if there are any planned reduction in fees for non-caymanian students?  Or will they have to pay the same $750 to $900 per year?

  3. MARTINO WATSON says:

    THIS IS A KIND AND GENEROUS GESTURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO THE PARENTS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS! IT’S THINGS LIKE THIS THAT SHOWS THE PEOPLE OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING AFTER ITS PEOPLE’S INTERST. WELL DONE!!