The Editor, Sir:

I find it quite interesting that many commentators have lauded the fulfilment of the free tuition fee promise as a major achievement of the first 100 days of the new Government. While the Government deserves commendation on the relatively smooth reimbursement of school fees, it may be premature to hail the measure as a successful policy. I raise the following for consideration,

1. Why did only 40 per cent of parents apply for the reimbursement?

2. Why did so many of the parents who claimed the reimbursement donate it back to the schools?

3. What empirical data indicated that secondary school students were unable to attend school due to the non-payment of school fees

4. At the secondary level, is the problem one of access to education or is it the quality of the education?

5. How will this policy affect the Government's ability to inject needed funding into the early childhood and primary levels?

6. What is the likelihood that most parents will contribute to schools' development funds and pay auxiliary fees come next school year?

7. What contingency will the Government introduce to deal with the likely decline in the schools' income come next year?

8. How, and when, will the Government assess the impact of the free tuition fee policy?

I am, etc.,

ORVILLE PLUMMER

oaplummer@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica