CASH-STRAPPED public schools are ignoring NSW Department of Education and Training rules and turning to debt collectors to chase unpaid subject fees.  :o

Debt-collection agency Prushka Fast Debt Recovery is chasing the recovery of unpaid money for subject fees, after-school care and excursions at public schools across Sydney.

Outraged parents say the tactic shows public schools are severely under-funded. >:(

"This year there has been a surprising number of public schools referring outstanding accounts to Prushka," its CEO Roger Mendelson said.

"This is from a low base, but it indicates a rising trend. At the end of the school year, both private and state schools put more focus on collecting outstanding accounts."


Mr Mendelson said public schools in Sydney, Newcastle and Dubbo were employing his company's services to chase debts of $50 to $1500 from parents for outstanding subject fees, excursions and after-school care.

He said the use of Prushka's services by public schools was widespread. "For public schools, they aren't large [financial] amounts, but we are seeing a lot more of them," Mr Mendelson said. :(

Peter Garrigan, president of the Australian Council of State School Organisations, confirmed the trend and said he had been advised of NSW public schools chasing parents for voluntary contribution fees through debt collectors.

But he would not reveal which schools for privacy reasons. "We have done some research and discovered there are public schools in NSW, Tasmania and South Australia who are referring debts to recovery agents," Mr Garrigan said. "Public schools should not need to chase funds from parents to make ends meet. Schools obviously need more money, which is why they are using debt collectors to recover funds.

"A public school by name is public, and the fees are voluntary contributions, and therefore not a debt, so sending them to debt collectors is inappropriate."


Comments on this story

   *
     J.G Posted at 1:07 PM Today

         What are the public schools going to do if the people cannot afford the school fees. Are they going to stop the children from having an education? I surely don't think so. With the state of the economy and quite a few people losing their jobs, it appears Gillard should pay out of her own pocket if the schoold are that desperate, as she and Rudd started this chaos.

   *
     Michelle of NSW Posted at 1:07 PM Today

         I went to a public school and my parents always paid because they could. My school always found a way to make it known which kids parent's hadn't paid the voluntary fee and were cruel, handing out notes in the middle of class to kids to take home to their parents, and making it known that they were reminder letters that Mum & Dad hadn't paid for school. Instead of funding resources and providing funding for more teachers, thanks to the BER we now have thousands of schools with millions of dollars worth of often unwanted and overpriced new buildings, and soon we will have a $43B NBN that kids won't be able to use because they can't spell, because their parents couldn't afford to pay the VOLUNTARY school fees!

   *
     Match Stick of Central Qld Posted at 1:05 PM Today

         To say public schools fees are voluntary is not strictly correct. Schools get allocated a budget by the Education Department and have to operate within that budget. However, to be able to run programs within the school e.g Home Economics requires the contributions of parents. If the parents want their children to be able to access the broad spectrum of what they believe their child is entitled to within the education system then they ver probably will have to put their hand in their pocket at some stage. Life is like that....you don't get something for nothing. So stop whinging and pay your fees.

So what do you want me to say????? It has always been the case that State Govts pay a small amount for each child to attend school. This does not cover the cost of pencils for the year!!let alone paper!!
P&C's raise monies for smartboards, readers, books, lawn mowers...the list goes on and on!

Most schools ask for a small amount to help cover costs but many parents are now tooo busy smoking at the front gate, down at the pub, socialising with friends to even consider paying a  cent to help educate their child......and NOW most of it is tax deductable...SOOOO PAY UP!!!

And as far as the comment about the BER at primary schools...this is sooo true!! Billions of dollars worth of COLA"S ....and NO readers in the classroom!!

Quote:

Comments on this story   *     J.G Posted at 1:07 PM Today         What are the public schools going to do if the people cannot afford the school fees. Are they going to stop the children from having an education? I surely don't think so. With the state of the economy and quite a few people losing their jobs, it appears Gillard should pay out of her own pocket if the schoold are that desperate, as she and Rudd started this chaos.

"chaos" ?

Australia has one of the strongest economies and lowest unemployment rate in the WORLD

What a NUTTER !

mellie spreads herself thin

buzzanddidj wrote on Nov 28^th, 2010 at 7:33pm:

Quote: Comments on this story   *     J.G Posted at 1:07 PM Today         What are the public schools going to do if the people cannot afford the school fees. Are they going to stop the children from having an education? I surely don't think so. With the state of the economy and quite a few people losing their jobs, it appears Gillard should pay out of her own pocket if the schoold are that desperate, as she and Rudd started this chaos. "chaos" ? Australia has one of the strongest economies and lowest unemployment rate in the WORLD What a NUTTER ! mellie spreads herself thin

So? What is the objection to debt collection?  Do you want to rip people / institutions off without consequenses?

aussiefree2ride wrote on Nov 28^th, 2010 at 7:56pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Nov 28th, 2010 at 7:33pm: Quote: Comments on this story   *     J.G Posted at 1:07 PM Today         What are the public schools going to do if the people cannot afford the school fees. Are they going to stop the children from having an education? I surely don't think so. With the state of the economy and quite a few people losing their jobs, it appears Gillard should pay out of her own pocket if the schoold are that desperate, as she and Rudd started this chaos. "chaos" ? Australia has one of the strongest economies and lowest unemployment rate in the WORLD What a NUTTER ! mellie spreads herself thin So? What is the objection to debt collection?  Do you want to rip people / institutions off without consequenses?

I don't HAVE one
These schools are private operations with every right to call in their debts
I just thought the suggestion that that these peoples woes was the fault of the Federal Government was HILARIOUS