- Cover costs: School fees help cover costs such as:
- Teachers salaries
- Educational/administrative material
- Utilities
- Maintenance
- Quality of education: School fees can contribute to improving the quality of education by providing additional resources for:
- Smaller class sizes
- Better-qualified teachers
- Up-to-date technology
- Enhanced facilities
- Parental involvement: Paying school fees can create sense of ownership and involvement among parents, contributing to a stronger school community.
- Financial management: Managing finances through fee payment teaches students important life skills related to budgeting and money management.
- Equity: School fees might allow for cross-subsidization, supporting lower-income students to ensure equal opportunities in education
- Economic incentives: By charging fees, schools create economic incentives for efficient resource utilization and cost effectiveness
- Investment in education: Paying fees can demonstrate commitment to education, encouraging students to value and take responsibilities for their learning
Cons:
- Affordability: School fees can be burdensome for low-income families, limiting their access to education and perpetuating socioeconomic inequalities.
- Access to education: High fees can exclude children from marginalized and lower-income backgrounds, contributing to educational disparities
- Education as a right: Some argue that basic education should be free and accessible to all children as fundamental human right.
- Quality variation: Charging fees doesn't guarantee higher quality education, as other factors like effective leadership and teaching practices play significant roles.
- Commodification of education: Critics argue that school fees turn education into a commodity, driven by market forces rather than social responsibilities.
- Potential corruption: In some cases, school fee systems might be susceptible to corruption, with public funds being misused or misappropriated.